The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-20 00:00:00

weeludeti from exerting themselves in a cause which was truly of a
sacred character• lie did not mean to assert that the Crown should
not tonna the power of preventing any of its subjects from enlist.
mg in foreign services, but he hoped that next Parliament the law
on the maker would be so altered as to distinguish the foreign ser-
vices, from some of which the exclusion might be excepted.
Mr, BOBHOUSE said that he would, long before the presenttirosUwe tale wp the subject, if he had not conceived that the
Geheignilinblidelinit measure in contemplation, which might be
elfillmiltiebipazaanticipation in questions propound in that
In the intentions of the Onemment whose
ea= he *me& would justify that opinion of their liberality.
Manned It enetit to make any declaration on that ilubject.
In geliessece to the neat blow which hail been struck against the
sister liberties of amen by the fall of litiseolonghi, he did not
ink am tt In the mime Eight of terror as his lien. Friend. Every
hope was to be indulged that the very siege of that place would
tend to invigorate the "int which had been kindled in Greece. He
believed, and the opinion was confirmed by men of judgment and
abilities, that If the fireeks evinced a degree of energy and valour
Similar so that at litiseolonghi, in the defence of the scat of Go.
ointment, they would be able effectually to withstand any op-
position which the Turks could bring against them. if he had
brought forward the subject, which dependence on the motives and
Intentions of Government prevented, he could have proved that
/frame bad acted with duplicity and perfidy, while this country
had adhered to a system of integrity and honour. lie had spoken
with a gentlemen lately arrived front Alexandria, and by him it
unstated that the exertions of the French were notoriously in fa-
milia the Turks. lie bad gotten a list of French officers and of
artskips In the service of the Pacha of Egypt, and lie had also
that a French ship had been employed by him in the
e=teof specie. He had also understood that it was the Mien.
leas pen of the French ministry to assist the Turks in the
Wing weemilvocal flegemer. What the Right Hon. Gentleman oppo.
ate (Mr. Canufte wend do, when such circumstances as were ap-
petheeded should bedeveloried, it MU not for him to express his
eonjectmes The stand which was made at slissolonghl,
however, lassiadisartening, would, he thought, inspire the
Greek MIAMI wididawarged energy, and would awaken and 'them
Ihte the sympathy of the British public.
The petition Wee then ordered to be printed.
RIGHTS Of SEPULTURE.
Sit ROBERT INGLIS, after some observations which were
almost entirely Inaudible in the gallery, moved that an address be
presented to his Majesty that instructions should be given to the
British Foreign Consuls and Agents to inquire into the mode in
which Protestants were treated in Catholic countries, and especially
in regard to the tights of sepulture.
Mr. Secretary CANNING spoke in so low a tone that we could
not distinctly hoer his words. We understood the Right Hoe.
Gentleman to state that he had no objection to the course proposed,
provided an amendment was added to the effect, that there should
be a similar inquiry respecting Catholics in Protestant countries.
If that reciprocity were to be adopted, he would not differ with
the Hon. Baronet.
Idir R. INGLIS said when he was about to propose the present
measure, he did not expect any opposition to a motion, the object
of which was a sequel to what passed twelve years before.
Mr. DENMAN thought that the motion should have coin.
prised as an essential part, what ought to be the amount of the new
salary to be paid to the Consuls and Agents for the extraordinary
Notelet assigned to them. It seemed, however, to be a very strange
ing to inquire into the manner in which the people of
proceeding
States, not the subjects of this kingdom, were treated. But
the matter was pregnant with dangerous results, in reference to its
operation In this naintry ' for it would naturally tend to excite
religious disclaiming andanknoslttes. which it would be much
more advisable to thee to foment. The only use to which
the inquiry could Isad would be to a claim of reciprocity of good
teethes between the Protestant and Catholic countries. But if the
taquiry should establish the fact, that the Protestant Religion of
,England was superior to the bigotry and Intolerant spirit which
prevailed et the other side, that very result would be a reason why
they should not have Instituted an inquiry which would deprive the
country of any part of the just pride which it entertained from the
possession of liberal and conciliatory principles. He hoped that
the Right lion. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Canning) would pause
before be would agree that the religion of this country should take
its colour and complexion from any other less charitable, and he
wished that the religious feelings of England might be rather per.
mined to show an example of liberality to the world than to follow
• 1.1 a more confined track. (Cheers.)
The motion was then withdrawn.
CURRENCY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Yr. BARING, In rising to present a petition from certain in.
bahltants of the Cape of Good Hope, complaining of the deprecia.
Eon of the currency in that colony, took occasion to enter at some
length Into a detail of the grievance stated by the petitioners. He
it
the depreciation of the currency of the Colony as moat
eraordinary, and as productive of the most serious injury to the
reopen', of the inhabitants. By proclamation Col. Beard had fixed
toe value of the rix dollar at 4s. It was afterwards reduced to 35.,
then to 2s. 6d., and filially to Is. co. The result of such an ex-
. tensive depreciation was, that great injustice had been done to
Individuals, by the loss sustained in property. Ile did not mean
. ers inculpate Lord Charles Somerset, nor the Colonial Government
but contended that the course pursued with regard to the currency
et the Cape of Good Hope had been most unwise. The average
value of the rix dollar, at stated periods, was as follows :—From
Plll6 to 1810, 31. 6d. ; from 1811 to 11115, 2e. lid • from 1816 to
1820, Is. 10d. ; and from 1821 to 1825, Is. Rd. This depreciation
eke petitioners attributed to an excessive issue of paper money,
sad the results were curious, as serving to show the effect that
might be produced by excessive over-issues. As to the remedy
which ought to be applied to this evil, he (Alf. Baring) was not at
present prepared to suggest one. He would not ear that the rix
Zeller ought at once to be brought back from Is. Gd. to its original
value of 4e. He conceived it would be better to pursue a gra-
Misted scale of alteration. At all events the subject was worthy
of consideration, and perhaps justice would be best obtained by the
appointment of a Committee to inquire into the subject. He was
informed that many persons had been absolutely ruined by the de-
preciatio n. and that it had produced the greatest misery and in.
/Invite. (Hear). The policy of Govemment, lie understood. was
to *end out silver coin. Now every one knew that a silver ginning
was not Is. sterling, or in other words, that if a person could send
silver to the Mint at the present price, and have it mimed into
shillings, he would secure a profit of about 12 per cent. The
traremtssion of silver coin, therefore, would be another logs to the
inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope. Reviewing the policy
adopted with regard to that country, it would be a matter of sur-
prise that property should be so treated which belonged to the in-
habitants of an English colony. He thought he had said enough
to thew that the subject was one which called for consideration.
The Crown, it was true, had the power of fixing the value of any
coin ; but if the House did not interfere to cheek an outrageous
exercise of that power, the property of those unfortunate people
win.t be sacrificed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that, as the
/Le.ourable Gentleman merely proposed to present a petition to
whidattere could be no objection, lie did not feel himself called
Urn! til enter fully into the subject. On a subsequent occasion,
however, he would be ready to enter into a justification of the con.
duct of Government with respect to the currency of' the Cape of
Ui.od Hope. Before he redeemed that pledge, however, he wished
to TIP the House in possession of some documents which would
0b.,. the true state of the currency of the Cape of Good Hope, as
well as what that currency really was. (Hear.) In the mean time,
be hoped the House would not decide that Government had acted
with the delinquency ascribed to it by the Honourable Gentleman.
The Honourable Gentleman compared the issue of paper in the
Cape of Good Hope with the Mew in this country ; but there was
no resemblance between the paper issues of the two countries. The
his tea of paper money in the Cape of Good Hope were Unlimited,
and the paper was neither payable at demand, nor of course con.
vernhle into gold. This would appear from the documents which
would be laid before the House ; and, by :uid bye, there would be
time enough to enter into the subject. It was sufficient to say that
the depreciation did not arise from any necessities on the part of the
'British Government, who had nothing to di with it. The paper
issues were directly applied to the local wants of the Colony.
(Hear.) In coeclusion, lie again stated his readiness to put the
House in possession of all the documents connected with the sub. '
jest, and, amongst the rest, the Report of the f'ommissionera, upon
whom a:deice Government bad •rtad.
Mr. H. GURNEY alluded to the ease of an individual, which,
he said, would exemplify the character of the adjustment made by
Government. The property of a family, the heed of which died,
was placed in the Orphan ( hamber, and guaranteed under the ca.
poulatien. For the last eleven years the limit, only received a
small part of the interest, at a depreciation of 300 per cent., and
tiro value of the property, which was originally one of the best
ht the Colony, was diminished two thirds by the till in the rix
dollar.
Br. bUSWINGTON contended that the petitioners ought to
have had an opportunity affinded them for laying their case fully
before the Privy Council. In the case of another settlement (we
understood Gibraltar), that course was pursued with the greatest
a4wantage. The Privy Conseil had consents Ito qualify the order,
and much injustice wee prevented. An application had been made
in the present ease to be allowed a hearing, but this was refused,
and no other alternative left but to bring the matter before Parlia-
ment. This accounted for his Hon. Friend's not bringing forward
the petition sooner, but he was glad it bed fallen into such able
hands. He was utterly astonished, however, at the assertion of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. that the moray was issued
',shout soy obligation to pay. According to the Right Hon.
fleotlermui s statement, it was by favour the Government now
give Is. rid. for the coin they had issued at 4s. The subject was
one of great importance ;it should receive consideration, and,
it podble, justice should be done to the utifortunate persons
wit., were suffering ander such a state of things.
Mr. ELLICE was at a less to know in what part of the history
CI the paper issues of this country, the Right Hon. the Chancellor
of the Exchequer found that those issues were limited. and payable
in specie at demand. The injury done to property by the system
purw.ed must be infinite, and it was quite Impossible the British
Pasliament could sanction such a line of eonduet.
51r. HERRIES defended the statement made by his Right
lion. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 1114 Right lion.
Friend had not said that the issues were never to be paid, but they
were cot convertible into gold at the will of the holier. A refer.
cape to one of those issues proved that they had never possessed the
character of coin convertible into gold. Under the present circum.
stances, he thought it was not advisable to enter into detail, but he
insieted that the conduct of Government was most liberal. It was
intended to produce an improvement In thccurrency, by substituting
lirtatedi min, instead of the various coins fabricated to Mete the exi-
gencies of a particular moment. It would be tedious to detail
11.4 absurd devices resorted to at different periods. (In one occasion
the centre was cut out of the Spanish dollar, and after this diminu.