The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-08 00:00:00

RANK RESTRICTION BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
rose, and speke nearly-as follows :
“ Sir, I rise in pursoanee (.f a notice lately. given
for me, by a Right Hon. Friend (Lord Hawkes-
.hury) during my unavoidable absence, to move
for leave to bring in a bill for continuing the Act
eau. restrains the Bank of England from paying is
:peck.. Sir, I believe, that the House will do me
the credit to suppose, that I move to bring in sulfa
a Bill, at the present moment, with great regret aild
anxiety; for, notwithstanding any fears that I may
now express, I look forward with the fullest confi-
dence, and I ant most sincerely anaious for the ar-
rival of the moment when we shall return to our
old course, and the Bank shall resume its former
practice of paying in specie. Sir, in moving this
measure, it is not necess.try that I should refer to
the etieinal ground. It is not reccssary diet we
phottl4.l consider whether it be now called for by
necessity. I shoifel t'resinue, that no nobody enter-
tains a doubt en that head, or has the least idea
that it i< a nccess-iry case. Still less, Sir, need I re-
fer to the suiliciency of the Bank, to discharge its
cbligatior.s by payments in specie; for, with te-
epee t to the solidity and sufficiency of he Bank,
I am convinced that there is we ,s partTele
of doubt existing in the mind of any Gentleman who
-hears me. 1 am perfatly aware, however, that
many persons who doubted the expediency of the
original measure, may feel great. doubt and &A-
cuity in. coming to a eesolution to discontinue the
Bill; that they may have thottght the origi-
n:d measure unwise, but that having been once
adopted, it may he wise to continue it. This was
the case last Session. Many who thought the origi-
nal measure obieEtionable, were of opinion, that it
would be inexpedient to take away the restraint im-
posed, and voted accordingly for its contieuance.
The ground on which I moved the continuance of
the restraint last Session was, that the difference of
exchange was so considerable, there was a great
crantity of specie going out of the country, mad lit-
tle or none coming into it. That state, however,
has been much improved since that time. The ex-
change is nearly at par wilt Hmunburgh, but it is
unfavourable with Amsterdam. The reason, how-
ever, still exists in sufficient degree to be felt by the
House. No ingots, no bullion come from abroad.
1 should therefore ask cf Gentlemen, whether in the
circumstances in which we stand it be. proper to al-
low country banks to issue small notes, for which
payment will be deraanded in specie, should the re-
striction be taken off ? I ask, if it be fit for the Bank
to be exposed to such demands, when there is no in-
flux of bullion, when none is likely to come from
Amsterdam, and very little from Harnburgh ? Sure-
ly in such a state of things, every body must think
it better to continue the restriction a little longer,
than to take it off for a single day, at the risk of the
evils which would be likely to ensue. It is then for
the purpose of precaution. I introduce the measure.
Ido not, however, wish to under-rate the inconveni-
encies that must attend the reaxklion, but still they
are only inconveniencies, and the consequences .of
taking off the restriction might be very. serious. I
wish the restriedon to continue until we shall see the
course of exchange steadily fixed. The cause., which
led to its presort unfavourable state are not likely,
I hope, to recur. We have had three years of scar-
city, during wilich reilli.eis of specie have beet;
sent out of the country, for the purchase of corn.
That is a drain of specie which, L may hope, without
presumption, will not «cur again. I may be al-
lowed to hope so with the more confide-6,, as it i, a
case unexampled in the history of the last two cen-
turies. There has been aLio a drain of specie in con-
sequence of large sums of mor.ey being sera out of
the kingdom for the payment of our army and na-
vy in the several parts of the world. We have, it
is true, a flourishing commerce, but it has not yet
had the effete of bringing back the speck thus drawn
Iron the country. When, however, we see all the
reasons operating that are likely to produce a fa-
vourable exchane, I am. justified in hoping that
such an event will soon take places and that the pe-
riod is not far off when the Bank may with safety
resume its former operations. Sir, upon these
grounds; I beg leave humbly to move, that the Ads
of the 37th, 39th, aad 4`2d cf the present reign be
read, and when that shall have I.een clone, 1 mean
to rove for leave to bring in a Dill to continue said
Ads for the suspending the pay-meats in .speck by
the Bank, for a time to be lintel. Before I sit
doom, Sir, I shall advert to what was urged last Ses-
sion, to flew that a Motion of this kind should be
.8..4 wit 'nylon

-

• '-t

~.YL".

I .

precedpsl by an enquiry.. I here already stated the
ground aponeehieh I. people the continutuce of the
restieNn. When that measure was originally pine
posed, doehu indetari were entertained respeeting •
the selidity of the Bank. It became then: ore nes
cessarv, upon that occasion, to shew its real state.
—lt was also thought right to consider how far it
wee, neceitserystiecontinue the Order of Cousitil re.
straining payenent ill specie, but all that is necessary
upon the present occasion, is to enquire the state of
exchange. Now there iiim office in which this can
be examined into and ascertained. It is a matter of
general notoriety, and admitting it to be capable of
examination in a Committee, it is scarcely a subject
for a serious Report. As to the Country Banks, the
House must be presumed to have cogniesance of
them, as they were sanCtinned by its authority."
Mr. TIERNEY.—" The Right Hon. Gentleman
has truly stated, that many Gentlemen who had
voted against the original Bill for restriCting pay-
menu in specie by the Bank, might be friendly to its
continuance. lam one of that description, and T
do confess I am open to argennent upnn the subjs.%
of whether it be or be not a fit measure, an/ dee. I
have not made up my mindh upon it ; but as to the
latter part, I mean how far a Committee of In-
quiry be a necessary proceeding, I entertain a de- '
cided opinion, and shall therefore take the liberty of k
s. y lig a few words respeeling that point.—Sir, how-
ever frivolous it may seem in the eves. of Gentlemen
grown familiar with the stoppage ache Banle—hew-
ever loosely they may talk in cenimen conversation
of that which was at first considered as little less
than a prodigy, I do think that there cannot
he a more important question, nor one requiring
more serious deliberation, than whether we eheithi
in this particular ease return to our former penttice,
or whether the whole system is to be reversed.
give, !weever, no opinion upon its merits, but I
want to have the reasons recorded urn. the Jew-
nals of the House. If there-be any questien• irr which
mere words are not to be relied upon, it is the pre.
sent ; because it is one not generally understood, or
to which Gentlemen are apt to turn their attention.
I Tmppen to know front a case within my own expe-
rience, that t!:c course of exchange is at present
•asainst this. coentry, and therefore I cattoot doubt
rte accnracy of the Right Hon. Gentleman's state-
meat in that particular; but the Right Hone Gen-
thman's words may be lost, they may not go down
to posterity, and therefore the reason should he re-
corded in a manner that may ensure its being heree
after known. The Right Hon. Gentleman thiliks
this simple fad of the exchange all the groundwork
necessary to be laid for his measures k think, how-
ever, very differently, and that much more is rce"
quired. There has been no report _of the Bank
proceedings for nearly six years. We do not know
what it is doing---what it has done in that interval,
or what operation the stoppage has had upon the
pecuniary concerns of the Country. I think it
must have had an operation, and that it should he
investigated by a Commiexe. The only greinul
stared is, that the e xchange is nearly at par, and upon
that alone. the Bill is moved for. But I deny ad-
mitting that to be the fact, and that the state of
exchange is a. ground. I admit that the Right Hein.
Gentleman has brought forward the measure with
pain and reluctance, as he has stated.. I believe
also that some time ago, and that not very far back,
he Wit not even in contemplation. I think if such
an eilletrlankdreerreentig in his Twine', his respect for
the I louse, and.his anxiety to give it the earliest
notice, would:have induced him not tiV n ithold eelf
communication of his intentions in that paseular,
until a time when there arc only twenty-ere clays
of the present Act to expire, and consequently only
so much time for the present measure. I think
therefore that it was not dictated by his own sense;
but that it has been suggested by others, upon rea-
sons that he may yet disapprove. The circumstance
ef the Exchange being nearly at par, does not
carry money out of the -country. There is now
no danger of invasion. There are nn foreign '
pr domestic politics to interrupt the regular
course of our pecuniary proceedings, ou any al-
ledged difficulty on the part of the Bank to resume
its payments in specie. Nothing of this kind is al-
hedged, and yet we ere now called upon to pass this
monstrous Bill.—Are the Bank Direetors ready to
open with payment irt specie, provided they have
the permission of the Legislature ? Let us then sum-
mon thein to answer, whether any danger is to be
apprehmaled from their resumieg their former prac-
tice ? As Ido not wish to throw out any reflec-
tions, or doubt the word of Gentlemen, I must pre-
sume, that the Bank is in a state that it could re-
sume its payments in specie with safety ; but stitl
have a right to enquire particularly into that point ;
and I am the more disposed to exercise that right,
because the Bank Directors, on a former occasion,
went beforehand with a resolution of their own,
stating, that they were ready to resume payments as
usual, if allowed to do so. I ask them, whether
we should not have the same information now ?
The Right lion. Gentleman has not stared all that
the Report of the Committee upon the Rank con-
tained. Among other things, it mentioned, that
the bullion in the Bank had at the time encreased
five-fold, and from one million was swelled to sir
millions. Now if there be bullion iu the Bank to
that amount, am I not to have the satisfaCtion• to
know it ? and how can that he obtained without
an enquiry? And are the Bank Directors afraid
of a run upon it under such circumstances ? But
the course of exchange, in my triad, furuishes
the strengeet et/gement against the measure, of
, Which it tentacle the sole founthition t for there are
many respectable and well-informed men rho say,
that as long :is the restriction continues, the ex-
change will he kept down. Ido not assert that we
should be hound by this opinion, bet it certainly is en-
titled to respect, considering the number and de-
scription of the individuals by whom it is enter-
tained : rtiereosoer, what reason is there that the ex-
change will be worse, if the restriction be taken off?
The Right Hon. Gentleman has not given any.
On the contrary, he has given reasons why it should
be better. In his financial statement, in the begin-
ning of the present session, he estimated a surplus
revenue of one million for the present year, and of
two millions for the next year. Here, then, is an
Admission., that for the last two years, the Bank has
no danger to apprehend. But is it right to continue
the restriction upon this single ground ? I should
think not—For whenever there is a fall in the ex.
change, there will of course be a run upon the
Bank for specie. People will therefore think, that i
what has happened once may happen 'again, and
consequently speculate upon a stoppage. There
are points which I might urge, but it is not ne-
cessary to enter into detail, as the Right Ho-

s ;:s.t

• a"

nourahle, Gentleman relies. upon the single mart h
of the Fetal i I therafore only trou-
ble tier Ifeuse th just a word more. Tie Bank
•DireEfore ie
. snieeilling to do 'any the&
for the I;Cnetiterthe , that pets them to er-
pence. It may, I admit, be very- expensive for
them to buy up bullion for the use of the kingdom,
but consklering the great benefit which they have
enjoyed foe six years past, at the expence of the peo-
ple, it would be no great matter of accommodation,
if they should do something now at their own. ex- '
pence for the benefit of the public. But if this Bill
be pressed, it will be a matter of convenience for the ,
Bank Directors. In my conscience Ido not believe
there is any one of them who thinks that the state of
exchange is a sufficient reason for one hour's delay.
The Right Hon. Gentleman may shake his head [The
Claneel7or of the Exrbeauer 51i0,4 lir lead at if he
thouzht otherw.er.] but I wish to know who the
Direehor is, that will say so in a period of profound
peace Li:e the present, and in the absence of all '
threign and sinniestic politics of that kind, that
could embarrass or impede our financial operations ?
I say then with confidences that there is no one
Bank Direeior who will maintaia such a position.
I am sure it v, ill be seen, that we owe something to
the country, for the purpose of removing those
; which the- stoppage of the Bank must have inspired.
' There has Been much writing upon the subjeft, and
a variety of opinions have been propagated, .from
whence it is the more necessary that the truth
sheuld be ae-erteined. One gentleman has written
a book, entitled, " The Inipdy of Banking." Ano-
, r has writ7en a book, entitled, 66 Guinea: as Is-
reeibraser-" Subjeet a: it is to this diyersity .of °pint-
on. never teas there a question so fit for a Committee.
1 There ate few whose opinion would carry so much
b weight as the Omahas:ea of the City ; and if a
Committee were appointed, they could state to it
the cause, the effat, feelings and consequence of the
measure, in all its hearings and relations.---le has
been the fashion. to lament the absence of a Rigli
Hun. Gentleman, whom I am sorrow I have not
now the pleraeere to see in his scat i,Me. Pitt).
Whatever our political differences may have been, I
have always heard him with euisfaelion. 1 wish
• he was hew, because I think I should-find imitative
powerful ally. Some say he will be here, some
that he will not. The Right Hon. Gentleman
(the Chancellor of the Exhequer) may shake his
head,• but that is all the information we are likely
to receive upon the subt. I repeat then that
I have a right to think he would be my powerful
ally on the present occasion, became when he
brought forward the measure now proposed to
be continued, he thought it necessary to give a
detailed report. I hope, however, that before the
Bill shall be passed, that we shag' have the benefit
of his presence and assistance. I mean to make no
Motion, though' I should like, to del so, did I know
how I could do it with effect. The course there-
fore which I should propose, would be to agree to
Bill fve two months, In order to allow time to. en.
quire how far it may be necessary to. continue it. i
do not wish the doors of the Bank to be immediately
thrown open, and the: every holder of a Bank Note
should tome and be paid in gold; but all I wish is
that we shotthe proceed deliberately, and above all
that there shoUld he an enquiry. If such enquiry
were to take place, 1 am convinced a great
mass of eeeenee.
,evensld be brought to lightes—
The Cc., Y has certeilely a claim upoa us fur Jilt
evidence, be, e, it will shew whether the meastroi
he really s iseeteit or not ; but at all events we
should n• : sespected of adopting .a measure .of
such mag;iituee without weighty reasons. Many
insinuations have been thrown out in writings against
the Bank, and in justice it should have an opportu-
' nitv of clearing itself. ' Without, then, a cautious
and deliberate proceeding, such as I have reconi-
mended, •we are more likely to be called the blind
accomplices of the Bank, than the vigilant guar-
! diens of the public purse."
Mr. FOX. ehe Chancereer of the Exchequer has
told the House, that he firmly looks forward to the
season when the restriction of the Bank from.pey-
meant in specie may be taken off without any disad-
vantage to the country. He states, that the single
and oyily reasen for wishing to continue this restric-
tion is, that the state of Exchange is against us ; so
that the case before us is to be considered as a gene-
ral, not a particular one; whenever the like cause
happens, the like effect will follow ; and it will be-
come it general maxim, and not peculiarly applica-
ble m the particular circumstance of the present in-
stance : that whenever the Course of Exchange shall
happen to he againt us, either through the exporta-
tion. of bullion, or the insufficiency of the importation
of it,or any other effect, the cause of restriction would
become general. He, thought there were opinions
upon this subject highly necessary to be brought be-
fore this House. He did not mean to arraign the
conduct of the 'Directors of the Bank : he thought
they had acted perfectly honourable. They had,
alreadj vinie forward, and declared their sufficienere-
and readiness to commence their payntents in specie,
if there Were no political objections to the measure ;
and this House ostglec to enquire whether there
really existed any, and what political objections, ei-
ther of convenience or advantage to the -conntiy,
' which could render a suspension of the measure ne
cessary foe any longer timo. He entertained ..sio
suspicion of the sufficiency of the Bank to make good
its payments, and he firmly believed that it was
owing to the upright viaduct of 'the Directors, that
the restriction had not beeferif as bad coasequences
as it might have been. He conceived that the pro-
' per steps for Min:eters to take, would be to institete
an enquiry into the inconveniency of taking off the
restriction, and he, for one, would vote for a proper
time for such enquiry ; or, if the inconvenience were
apparent, he asked the House, whether there might
not be some arrangement, such as by paying a part
in cash,.as indeed he had been informed the Bank
did upon small diyideads, or sonic other gradual
system discovered of lesening this inconvenience ?
Mr. Tierney had said, that the Bank would not serve
the country where there was any loss to itself'. He,
for his part, did. not see why it should. He had
heard that in 1772, when a great deal of bad mo-
ney was circulating in this country, the Course of
Exchange turned greatly to its disadvantage ; but
that upon a subsequent arrangement, when the coin
became better, the Exchange turned more in favor.
This was exactly the present case ; our coin was had
then, our paper is so new ; and, in all probability,
the immediate effect of taking off the restriction
from the Bank, and restoring pay meats in specie,
would be to render the Course of Exchange incur
favor. \ellen he heard that bullion was scarce and
paper plenty, the fair inference he drew from it was,

,

that the former wls dear, and the Tatter cheep; and
it was, a fact, that in- many parts of the kingdom it
was usual to- give a premium for guineas, which
must, of course, depreciate paper r and whilst paper,
the common currency of the kingdom, was under
value, the Course of Exchange must be against us.
He thought it very strange to say, because the
Courses( Eachangewas against us, the Bank should
be restrained fonn making specie payment ; be-
cause, if this restriction lasted long, the Bank
might, without the knowledge of that House, put
itself out of condition ever to pay in specie.
Mr. BANKS had not heard it said what limits.
the bill was intended to have. If the restriction was
to be for more than a very short space of time in-
deed, it concerned the credit of the country that an
enquiry should be instituted, and that it should be
no longer kept in this unusual' state without very
sufficient grounds. He did not know whether it
was the intention of the Hon. Member (Mr. Fox) to
make any motion in this busineis ; if not, he should
take the task upon hiinself; as he thought it his dut y
to oppose the restriction from being extended for au*
considerable time.
Lord HAWKESBURY said, that it appeared to
him, that the only question which could arise upon
the present subject, was respecting the period of
time with which the blanks in the Bill were to i.e
filled up. Fot hi; part, he thought that a period of
time should be inserted, sufficiently long to give
time to a Committee to make an enquiry situ the
situation of the afFairs of the Lank. He agreed
with his Right lion. Friend (the Chancellor of the
Exchequei) that the measure of restricting. the
Bank from payment in specie, was perfectly neces-
sary at period in which it was iutroduced ; yvt,
looking at the circumstance, without any reference
to a particular situation, it was greatly to be re-4
retied, that the. eipediency 'of it "4844 ever hart
arisen, and every person must look anxiously fur-
ward to the time when things would be restored!
to the usual form. The question appeared to him
to stand thus ; and he would ask whether, after
having imposed this restriction, continued it so
many years, and erperienced no inconvenience
whatsoever resulting from it, it would not be wise
to pause before it was all at once thrown off, and to
look forward to that period of time, when no di--
adeatuage could possibly result from it ? The greaa
exportation of bullion for grain, during the list.
three years, -the retail importation of bullion 'dur-
ing the war, and the. very heavy expence attending
Our numerous iiimotarid arrhies in all parts of the
glolte..ll,ad nearly- drained the country of specit..„
and turned the Comic of Exchange rather alainst.•
it; but if -tit were only tee rennce the last sir
moths, lit would be found that we had been daily
tainting gre.und ; Ca tt 'at Nessus, the Course of
• xclrange was at par, and would, probably, be,
515151 r in. Our Layne...lid wdutd ask Gentiernen,-if
the restrieti,- n be takn. off;
.v..-11114 they choose nn
• tinfa-voutable period, or would they-wait until thitrs
lexti a battrr- aspect ?. As Uri Course of I'..ciurage
turned against ns by uncommon causes, road• un-
f.-n-esen events,'he could not conclude, .that it was
fair to hurry the business at this period of time,
when, from a comparison of last month only, wittx
any one preceding month, it: was impossible not to
conclude, but that a' More favourable . period was
advancing. No well-groun d doubts could be en-
tertained respecting, the sutfi ency of the Bank to
answer al its engarnaents ; refore, of what service
would be in tircpury into tit*tuation of its atTairs ?'
it would only jiltovel, the c se ofsin useless and
groundless 'alarm. rrZini t. epa ors which the
Bits* .of Ellerin . .. le,
re%pecting- tl-Sir.'h./Tairs; elleaniaa.liad Id "oppor-
twiny of. aaert Aining,..4.4i the Rank had, in sin
shape, taken any undue advantage of the restric-
tion from paying in specie, by issuing more paper
than it could answer. •If they looked at the Course
of Exchange, only one year ago, when the: stoppage.
of the Bank existed equally as at present, and tiled
considered the improvement of the Course of Ex-
change, since that short period of time, which, front
being considerably against us, was now at par, it
would be very easy to diacein;that a short space of
time would bring with i; a, more favourable oppor.
tnnity than the. present, of taking. off the restrio‘
tion from the Bank, and suffering it to return to it;
former customary 'mock of making payments in
specie. As to the period for which the restriction
should be continued, he thought the proper thee
of discussing drat point would he, when the blanks,
left in the Bill for that purpose, should come to be
filled up.
Sir FRANCIS BARING supported the motion,
which he justified, not on the grounds of necessity,
but of precaution,' propriety and wisdom. lie
was sorry to hear some expressions which occurred i. 4
the debate, respecting the ability of the Bank to pay
in specie, of which there could be no doubt. Aa
to the course Or exchange, the present question of
restriction did not depend on it, but rose out of ex-
traordinary circumstances, at .its original adoption,
which it was prydent to continue fora certaintinie.
No person leaked forward with more pleasure than
he did for that period, when the Bank may wits
safety respire its payments: But while the conti-
nient can get silve:r7from all parts, it can get gold
only from London; it :was therefore necessary to
restrain the issue emit. •The Hon. Baronet spoke in
so low 'a tone of voice, we could scarcely hear him.
The CH A NCELLO R of the EXCHEQUER flit
himself called upon to say a few words, in answer to
what had fallen from. an }lon. Gentleman, (Mr.
'rierner) who said he believed it IA ..,s not originally
his intention to move a further to iffion on the
Bank. He acknowledged to have- 1!-al. a hope of
avoiding the measure, and would • -1.,4 alx....iined
•-
..
from it if possible. The Hon. Gentlernanexaairis
taken in supposing the course of etchange,the t.,:.
ground on which this motion is founded. In con-
sequence of the restriction, Country Banks were
permitted to issue a great number of small n....es ;
and the resumption of payment would occasion the
calling in of those notes, and a heavy run on the:
Bank, at a time when no bullion was imported. It
was not, therefore, owing to the course of exchange
alone that the measure was proposed • if so; it would
be open to the remark of the Hon. Gentleman, that
at any future period the course of exchange would
be the ground for a similar restriaion, but it wa,s
owing to the run on the Bank which a resumption of
payment would occasion. Theexportatioit of specie
would require a circulatingmedium to fill up the void,
and the run on the Bank would bein proportion to the
exportation. An Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fox) men,
tinned the necessity of a moderate issue of spe-
cie, in exchange for small notes, like the issue of thic
small dividends. it would then be net ssary to riF
. . . . .
. . . .

LONDON,
TUESDAY, FES. 8.

II
--Jim.

strain the issue of small notes which they already
abitain from, as much as possible, from political
motives; for if small notes were paid in specie, all
the large notes would be exchanged for small ones,
and thus not only defeat the intent of a mode-
rate issue, but entirely do away all restriCtion.
He had no communication whatever with the Bank
upon the subject, excepting what related to the true
,tate of exchange—He must also observe, that the
disjointed state of our commercial affairs, which
were not yet adjusted, with regard to our relations
with other nations, required the adoption of this
measure, and pointed out the present time as the
most unwise for altering it. He wished this re-
striction to be in force for six weeks after the com-
mencement of the next Session. I agree with my
Noble Friend ( Lord Hawkesbury) that a committee
of enquiry would be attended with great inconveni-
ence; the grand question of renewing the Bank Char-
ter was carried without any previous enquiry, and if
there was no idea of investigation seined then,
there could be no necessity for it now. He ad-
mitted that it may be necessary at some future pe-
riod, as suggested by his Noble Friend, to take a
large, extensive, and comprehensive view of the
paper currency of the country. including banking
business responsibility, lfrc. but no: during the con-
tinuance of the restriaion ; but he did not pledge
himself to bring forward such a measure ; it was
with extrertai reluaance he made the motion, and
looked forward with hope for the arrival of that
pniod, which would render the restriction no longer
racees;ary.
Mr. V ANiITTART said, the Resirietion on
the Bank is stated by the Hon. Gentleman under the
-tiller! (Mr. Tierney) to he founded entirel on the
course of exchange; but in 1797 and 1798, the ex-
change was in our favour. The Spanish treasure
sletained during the war in America. had a great
effect on money transactions ; it is true great part
of this treasure had arrived in Europe, but had
not yet got into the proper channel for circulation,
.eid he was confident we may look forward with
sanguine and v: ell-founded expectation to a flourish-
ing state of our pecuniary concerns.
Mr. TIERNEY said a few words in explanation;
his (-pinions were founded on those of persons of
experience.
The question was put, and leave given to bring
in a Bill accortlin:zly.
On the motion of Mr. CORRY, tic House re-
Aolveditself into a Committee of Supply, in which
several sums were granted for various institutions in
Ireland. Report ordered to be read to-morrow.
Mr. \VICKHAM moved for leave to bring in a
bill, to extend the privilege of voting at elections to
the offieers of the revenue in Ireland, in the same
manner as it is exercised by the officers of the reve-
nue in England and Scotland—Leave given.
Mr. HENRY LASCELLES brought op several
petitions, of a local or private nature, from York-
s+ire. Ordered to be referred to a committee. The
Noose adjourned till to-morrow.

THEATRE,Rorift„DRURT-ElsvE.
THIS EVENING will be presented a Nyw Couietly called
HEAR BOTH SIDES.
The Characters by Mr. Dowton, Mr. Bannister, Jun. Mr.
C Kelable, Mr. kaymond, Mr. Stiett, Mr. Wroughton
Mr. Clierl, Mr. Wowitzer, Mr. Collins. MI. Pope, and
Mr t. Jutclan. The Prologue to be spoken by Mr. Banuistcr,
Juu. and the Epilogue by Mrs. Jordan.
4is winch will re added, the Burletta of
MIDAS. _

To-roorrow, The Mendiant of Venice —Shyleek by the
Gentleman who performed the pert of Richard the Third, being
le.l fourth A.apeduaatce on ally Stage. To which will be added
eke sew l'antoasara.

THE.ITItt-ROTAL, COVENT-GARDEN.
THIS 1.:VE.141;4G will be performed the Comic Opera of
,TI-IE CABINET.
(Klub, Mr. Braham; Peter, Mr. Mundon ; Whimiculo,
Mr. Fawcett Count Curt**, Mr. Emery ; Marquis de Grand
Chateau, M. Blanchard; siul I.urcilzu, Mr. Incledon. Cu-
ria,,, Mn. Mattocks; Coastanti, Mrs. H. Johnston; and
Flurctta, S.gnora
To which will be alJetl,
ANIMAL MAGNETISM.
The flentlernan who performed the Character of hamlet, on
'Wtrinesday, fur the first time, was rcceivAl with uhbowurleil
applause, and will repeat that Charamr Tu-morrow with
else Farms—A New Comedy bin rehca3al.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

It will be seen, in our Parliamentary Report, that
leave was given last night, in the House of Com -
-mons, to bring in a Bill for the farther continuance
of the as that restrains the Bank from paying in
specie. The course of exchange was the only
ground stated for this measure, and we are happy
.o find that it is not so strong as it was generally
supposed to be. According to the statement of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the exchange is near-
ly at par between this country and Hamburgh, but
not so favourable with Amsterdam.

At an early hour yesterday, there was an atten-
dance at the New Goal in the Borough, to witness
ti.e trial of Colonel DEs ',Attu. The crowd was as
numerous as a cause of such great espeaation might
be supposed to attraEt. The care of the Sheriff and
his Officers, for the accommodation of the Court,
made them vigilant against the irregular intrusion
of grangers. In the disappointments which this
occasioned, offers of any sum, were, in vain, made
by Gentlemen solicitous to gain admittance.
At a quarter after nine the Judges, Lord ELLIN
nostoton, Mr. Justice LL BLANC, Mr, Justice
CHAMBILIy and Mr. Baron Trrossrson, tool• their
seats on the Bench. Mr. ATTORNAT.GENEitAL,
Mr. SOLICITO4GLNERAL, Mr. Sergeant Suer.
HERD, Mr. GARNO*, Mr. PLONtill, Mr. COMMON
S a ILJEAN r, Mr. Wool:), and Mr. ABBOT, attended
as Counsel for the Crown. Mr. JEasrtr. and Mr.
Rolm. att,ndeJ on the part of. the Prisoner.
Colonel Dur s.at, was then put to the bar.
An assize of two hundred and forty persons had
been summoned, out of which to ccmpose a Jury.

'