The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-06-03 00:00:00

'ART INTELLIGENCE.

--mow--
HOUSE OF LORDS, THUD/DAY, Juirs 2.

CORN LAWS.
The Earl of ROCHPORD presented two petitiors from plum
to Suffolk, against any alteration In the Corn Laws—Laid on the
table.
COUNTY COURTS BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from Mr.
Thames Dale, an officer of the Court of Exchequer, praying for
compensation in the eveot of the county Courts Ball passing into a
. law.—Laid on the whir.
Mr. Johnson, the office of the Chief Secretary for Ireland,
hated. the BRIM Report of the Commissioners of the Irish
Mr. Lushlogton, Mr. A. Campbell, and other limbers of
the House of Commons, brought up several Private Bills, which
were read a first nine.
EXCISE AND CUSTOMS ASSIMILATION BILL.
The Backe and GUStM)33 Assimilation Bill went through a Can.
• - Ante's, and the Reperbwas received.
IRISH BURIALS.
sePtir of the Day having been reed,
of RADNOR requested that the Act of lot Session
ntive to theropeal of the ilkh of William 111. respecting Nu.
rills in Inland, oi)ght be read; which having been done, the Noble
Reel observed, that he wished this subject had been placed: in other
and abler hand& The questioes was one not of polities but of reli-
gion, sod required great consideration, The Bill of last Session was
Iligeilkettion against all heresies. When he au a Member of Par-
=the Bowlwasin the habit of using good English. but it
so Dow. He wielsed that a clause of that Bill might be
amt. in Mkt to show its absurdity, tar it declared that the former
Act should " stand and be repealed." He complained of the 11111
. ~ ! se the ground that it permitted any person in the character of a
filergyrrian to libel the doetrmes of the Church of England. and also
authorised blasphemy and impiety. Ile would now present a Bill,
entitled " An Act to regulate interments in Ireland, in a mated,-
*at .and orderly maraca ;" di erhich• he would move the first
reading.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that he (Mainly conceived
it his duty to oppou this Bill. The Noble Earl (Radnor)
wee certainly privtfted to move its first reading, but he (the Earl
at Liverpool) would give his decided Apposition to its proceeding
any-(prther. He tweed with the Noble Lord that this question
Mut of a religious mature. When the subject wee agitated during
the last Session, every pew who had paid any attention to it,
had found it to be exceedingly embarrassing in all its psrts.—
Whethee or not the Bill that was then putted-was grammatically
sonstructed, he never knew a question more deliberately con.
adered, either on the other side of the water oc on this; end at
least it bad so much in its favour, that it had stcceeded in esta-
blishlog tranquillity en the topic. He was sure that unless their
Lordships were On vinapd of its inconvenience. they would leave the
low as it was. With respect to the first observation of the Noble
Cad relative to the passage in the Bill, "htar.d and be repealed,"
be (herd Liverpool) believed it was an expression of common
parlance. and a 'perfectly legal phrase. With respect to the enact.
Irene ifself, the Bill certninly did restore to the Roman Catholics
the right of burying the dead in monasteries, &c. but m many of
those monasteries had become private property, it was deemed pro-
per to withhold this permission in such atm., unless with the con-
tient of the proprietor; this appeared to him to be quite reasonable.
With respect to another subject, there had been considerable diffi-
ralty. The old law provided that all persons had a tight to be
buried in the cluirth-yard, and the clergymen were hound to per-
L.Arrn the service of the Church of England. The Roman Catholics,
it was considered, would naturally object to this arrangement, and the
obligation was, therefore, very rarely acted upon. The first object of
the Bill art liras. Session was to do away altogether with this obligation.
Then came the consideration of the more difficult question. The
1- ,man Catholics claimed the right of saying prayers over the dead ac-
cording to their own ritual, but it war thought that this right ought
out to be indiscriminately acknowledged, and therefore the law enact-
ed that it should be left to the discretion of the curate to determine
when such permission should be granted, with a proviso, that in all
cams of refusal, the curate should communicate his reasons for '
such refusal 'to the diocesan. lie (the Earl of Liverpool) knew
hAit; this clause did VOL please the extremes of either party, but it
appeared to him to be beneficial and good. Their Lordships, he
wee sure, would think it wrong to permit this indiscriminate right
so all Dissenters, when they considered the right which clergymen
bad ind ought to have over the church-yards. After much pain-
ful and anxious consideration, he conceived this was the best
enactment that could have been formed; and what was better, it'
had been well received, and the practice heel gone on well. lie
hoped, therefore, that their Lordships would not in any way dis-
turb thelaw. With this view of the subject, he would oppose the
printing of the Bill, lest the subject might again go forth to the
world and lead to unpleasant results.
'Tire Earl of RADNOR could scarcely believe it possible that'
the Noble Earl would oppose the printing of the Bill ; but at
any rate he would take the sense of the House upon it.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL:aid he did not mean to oppose the
beat reading of the Bill, as that was a niatter of courtesy; hut he
abould certainly oppose its being printed.
The Bill wan then read a first time.
Lord REDBSDALE thought it would he more advisable for
the Noble Earl (Radnor) to withdraw the Bill.
The }ail oh RADNOR then moved that the Bill be printed.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided,
when the numbers were—
Content, I I Not• Content, 31 I Majority, SO.
Mr. Blackburn, and other Members of the House of Commons,
brought up two private Bills, which were read a first time.
EQUITABLE LOAN BILL.
The Earl of FA LmouTH presented a petition from the parish
of St. Andrews, Holborn, in favour of die Equitable Loan Bill,
and another petition to the same effect.
file House then adjourned.

I'.

MOUSE 'OF COMMONS, THURSDAY, Jul's&
RO;

./BERT GOURLAY.
Caps. WEMYSS presented a petition from certain individuals
in the county of Flfe, praying that the cue of Robert (lourlay
might be inquired into.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. T. WILSON presented a petition from the Cordwainers of
the City of London, against a reoessal of the Combination Laws.—
Referred to the Committee.

COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr. S. WH ITBREA 1) rose to present • petition from the Inhas
bitants of London and Westminster, complaining of the manner in
which BR Bill for incorporating the Westminster Oil Has Company
had been thrown out. He made several observations on the manner
in which the business of Committees was managed up stairs, and
upon the non-atteudance of Members. He had himself been the
only person who for several days might be said to have formed that
Committee; for be, the Chairman of it, sat alone, listening to evi.
deuce and to counsel, and then all at once eight-and-thirty Mem.
bees, the great majority of whom never beard a word of the evi-
dence, came down and decided the question. He had been told
that such had been the practice for hundreds of years, Lint he
trusted that tnere would speedily be an end to it.
Mr. T. WILSON thought that the conduct of Committees in
Brat respect called loudly for amendment.
After a few words from Sir C. BURRELL,
Mr. W. SMITH (Norwich) observed, that the Company would
have given employment to 3,000 persons. The system under whist'
private Bills were managed called, in his opinion, for most com-
plete reform. It was a question of much importance, and would,
he hoped, be decisively taken up. He would not then take upon
Mtn to determine whether the decision of the Committee in question
was right or wrong; but one thing he would say, which was, that
the wanner of it was most reprehensible. So much did he disap-
prove of such practices, that he declared the prevalence of them had
striven him from all private Committees. Every body knew that
Members came in droves down to such Committees, in the most
eatire ignorance of the testimony, Indeed without even affecting to
know any thing about it, and took their side on the division with-
out hoeing paid the slightest attention to what might have been said
by oounad or witnesses.
Mr. TREMAYNE concurred with the Honourable Members
who went before him in thinking that reform was very much
needed, and he earnestly hoped that early in the next Session the
subject would be taken up by some Member of weight and
influence.

Mr. CALC RA FT thought it extremely objectionable that per-
enns interested should take upon themselves to sit as judges in
such matters. Though fully impressed with the necessity for alter-
auon which on all hands was allowed Werist, he could not but
admit that the subject yes one of considerable difficulty. He there-
fore would not undertake to say that be had matured any scheme ;
yix, with a view to do something, he would suggest that they
shuuld borrow from the Grenville Aix, and adopt proceedings
somewhat similar to those resorted to under that Statute. He
thought Special Committees ought to be appointed, of limited
member', with power to none others to vote. There might like-
wise be certain nominees, consisting of Honourable Gentlemen who
might be considered better acquainted with the subject to be
brought under their consideration than ordinary Members. Such
Committees, be considered, ought to be elected by ballot. He
vivid, from !Mown knowledge, bear testimony to the truth of the
statement, that many Members came into those Committees, and
derided the question, without having beard one word of the evi-
dence or the arguments of Counsel.
:dr. SYKES agreed in the importance of the subject, and that
main? Bills of much public utility were rejected in consequence of
the votes of persons who had private interims to advance. Speaking
from his own experience, he would declare, that never in his life
did be see more injustice perpetrated than in those Committees.
Re entirely concurred with the Honourable Member for Warehari
(Me. Calcraft) in the view which he took of the sutijett.
Mr. LIT rLETON could not help expressing his surprise that
moo or common honesty could be guilty of such scandalous
practices. After an expense of pert:Apar f two or twenty thousand
pomade bad been incurred, they determined suchquestinns in perfect
ncnorance of the facts or reasonings brought forward by the parties.
The House, he thought, had nothing to do with deciding the
details of such measures ; they had merely to come to a vote on
principles, or at least the report of the Committee would supply
cue-1 with sufficient information on matters if detail. Whatever
Gnome they might adopt, whether by appointing Select Committees
or otherwise, they should save themselves from ptshlic odium by
thine being found at Last a few Members in that House. who
would, *hen opportunity offered, rise up in their places, and cx-
preaa thrir derided reprobation of such conduct.
Me. TRANT then made a few observattons after which
fro'r-thjs. P't/itA NT tweed to the House, that be had been asked
thin
to
nagthebeginning_ .4, attend that Committee, and even had lie had
evidence, he would have horn taluct=t to do au;

.

but se tht matter stood, he felt it his duty to abstain altogether
from giving a vote. It must have strack every one in that House
with surprise, that no one present ventured to contradict a single
tittle of the statement made by the Honourable Member who
presented the petition. There was no grievance greater, or one
that called more urger.tly for a remedy. In cases of that nature,
where large sums of money had been invested, and great public
benefit likely to result, Memberashould be restrained from bringing
upon themselves individually, and upon the Howie generally, the
discredit which such conduct necessarily entailceL
After • few words from Mr. RICKFORD.
Mr. BRIGHT expressed his regret that the Member for Hull
had not brought forwent in the present Stasi°, some measure on
the.aubject. It might still be highly beneficial to do so.
The petition was then brought up, and ordered to lie on the
table.
Mr. WHITBREAD said that the individuals who had signed
that petition, hail riot done so in the expectation of its producing
any object which interested themselves individually, but merely in
the hope of doing a public good by calling tbstattention of Partia-
-1 ment to the abuses which prevailed in Private Committees., the
more especially as the Honourable Member for Winchelisen had
not redeemed his pledge on that important subjec..
COTTON MILLS.
Sir A. CHICHESTER presented a petition from the town and
neighbourhood of Belfast, against the Bill tea regulating the boors
of Children's Labour is Cotton Factories.—Ordered to lie on the
The same Honourable MeMber presented a petition from the
same place, in favour of the Bill for establishing Manufactories in
Ireland.
COMBINATION LAWS..
Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition from the journeymen saw.
jers of Brighthampstead, against the renewal of the Combination
Lawt—Rereered to the Committee.
FISHMONGERS.
Mr. CALCRAFT presented • petition from the journeymen
fishmongers of London, praying that Fishmongers' shops be shut
up after ten o'clock on Sunday mornings.
After a few words from Sir R. Wicsow, Mr. W.Satten (Nor.
with), Sir M. W. Itinccv, tfo, &c.
Mr. CALCRAFT, jar, pea notice that he would bring Ins
Bill to effect the end sought by the prayer of the petition.
The petition was thevres& and ordered to be printed.
COMBINATION LAWS.
Mr. Alderman H EV:SATE presented a petition from the opera.
till sawyers of Sudbury (as we .understood) against the re-enact-
manta& the Combination Laws.
HOUSE AND WINDOW TAX.
Mt. WYNG presented a petition from the churchwardens and
Ovaillef • of the hamlet of Radcliffe, for the repeal of the House
and Window Tax.
LA-TV (SF MERCHANT AND FACTOR.
Me. J. SMITH had to present a petition on a subject of consi-
devoid, importance, and which was signed by the principal mer.
chants of Landon, and indeed by the great body of them, with the
exception of three or four, who never signed their names to any
petition whatsoever. The object of the petition was to obtain relief
from the operation of certain commercial regulations between mer-
chant and factor, which were found to be extremely prejudicialto
the mercantile interests of the country. It had been intended to
bring in a Bill on the subject, but circumstances which took place
is another place had operated to prevent it. He repeated, the pre-
sent petition was signed by the bulk of the commercial interests Qr
the City, among: others by ten Bank Directors. The regulations
in question had originated in 1742, and went to prevent the onset-
talky of raising money upon goods consigned from abroad to this
country. He understood objections to tbe proposed alteration were
entertained by the Judges, but, however he was disposed to attend
to the opinions of those learned and venerable individuals upon
subjects connected with the law, be did not conceive them the best
authorities upon commercial affairs.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW thought the country and the commer.
cial community indebted to his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith)
for the exertions he had made and the view he took of the case.
lilt. T. M ILSON said the petition did not merely speak the
sentiments of the merchants of London, but of the commercial in.
terests generally of every town-in the kingdom.
After an observation from Mr. IRVING,
Mr. HUSKISSON intimated hat intent&is of supporting a
measure such as that contemplated by the Honourable Gendeman
(Mr. J. Smith).
Mr. SCA RLETT hoped when the measure alluded to came be-
fore the House, it would be couched In intelligible language, and
not like some of the measures of his Right Honourable Friend,
which he must profess himself utterly unable to understand. If
the proposed Bill were intended to enable one of two parties to tbs.
pose of goods without the consent of the other, he would never agree
to it. With respect to the Judges, he had no objection that they
should receive • lesson in political economy, at the same time be
was not disposed, with his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith), to
underrate their opinion upon subjects of commercial property, a
knowl•dge of which their situation and daily experience could not
fad to afford them.
The petition was then read, and ordered to be printed.
TITHING SYSTEM.
Sir H. PARNELL presented a petition from certain inhabitants
of the diocese or Killaloe, in the county Tipperary, Ireland, com-
plaining of the alteration that had been adopted in the tithing
system.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from the inhabitants of
the parish of Castle Lyons, County Cork, praying for an inquiry
into the tithing system in Ireland.
Referred to the Committee on the state of Ireland.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS (IRISH).
Mr. BROUGHAM presented • petition from an individual
named Robert Bell, of the parish of Tullyally, in the county Ty-
rone, praying for an inquiry into the state of Grand Jury present-
ments is Ireland—Released to the Committee on the 'state of Ire-
land.
COMBINATION LAWS, AND RATE OF WAGES.
Mr. BROUGHAM rose to present a petition from the working
colliers of Mid and East Lothian, against the re-enactment of the
Combination Laws, and praying so equitable adjustment of the
rate of wages. The Learned and Honourable Gentleman observed,
that those individuals, though hard-working men, deserved to have
some attention paid to the prayer of their petition. They were
better educated than many other individuals of greater pretension
and higher rank, and although those persons could not lay claim to
be considered as political economists, the House should have a fel-
low-feeling with them in that respect, for it was but lately that
they were in the same situation themselves. (A laugh.) Indeed
there were some Honoutable :Members in that stale at this moment;
others had been but lately rescued from their ignorance; the bulk
of tbe House were in the very same situation not twenty years ago,
and these petitioners were quite as well informed as some of his
!Majesty's Ministers at the present moment. (Hear, and laughter.)
Under such circumstances he trusted the House would not Mare.
gaud the prayer of the petitioners.—Laid on the table.
CATHOLIC RELIEF.

Mr. DROI'GHAM presented; petition from certain Members
of the Established Church, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in favour of
the Catholic Claims.—laid on the table.
COUNTY MAGISTRATES.

Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition from an individual
named George Henry Bays, of Cambridge, an attorney of the
Court of King's Bench, complaining of the deplorable ignorance
manifested upon legal subjects by the Magistrates at Quarter Ses-
sions. Petitioner stated that these individuals afforded the strong-
est possible contrast to the information possessed by the Magistrates
of London and Westminster; fur that the majority of them were
fox-hunters, and arbitrary (a laugh), and, in short, everything but
lawyers. It was the desire of the petitioner, that, previous to the
admission of these individuals into the commission, they should be
subjected to an examination before competent Bsrristers, and shat
a suitable degree of knowledge should be instilled into them if
round deficient in the necessary information. (A laugh.)—Laid on
the table.