The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-03 00:00:00


*mild Le emharrased tool frustrated rather Ittto
promoted. If the object of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman was full inquires,, his amendment gave him
the amplest opportunity of having thet inquiry to
the littlest extent ; and with respect to the proposed
time of extending the restriction own March,
there were many circumstances which rendered
th,it particular period desirable ; for then Par.
figment would be sitting, and such steps enfold
be taken as the nature of the case should
require. He meant to !impose, that the Com-
mittee for which he should move would first di.
rest their attention to the danger which may arise
from the resumption of cash payments on the 6th
July next, the period it which the present Act ex-
pired. Anti suppose the Committee were of
opiuiva that it resumption of cash payments at that
period would hazard the best interests of the coin,.
try, then they were to inquire into the cantles which
had hitherto operated to prevent the resumption of
rust► payments. and into those which subsisted at
the present period. The next ioquiry which they
should itio.ke was into the state and course of the
foreign exchanges; aril further, into the original
causes which were found to affect the metallic circu-
lation of the country. They were also to investi.
g rte the subject of foreign s, nod the tit
of British capital iii foreign funds, and the effecis
of the Corsi Bill. The Committee, after invvs►i-
gatim• .:11 these important parts of the subject,
would then be prepared to give an 0111111011 Oh the
Whole, which would be likely ►n lead to a full amid
for umider►tanding of this important subject.—
lie had oo doubt that such a Committee would
do an important service to their couatry—and
the real way to mike the busiiiess effective
in the course of this import', orottld Ii for Gen-
tlemen to lay asite for the moment their theu-
rte► soul strung opiaiuu►, tied cooseot to judge
merely from the facts, us these 14(44 t‘oolcl be sut►-
mitted to their consideration.— ( I fear. hear.)—He
therefore hoped the Right llou. Gentleman would
!mug his mind to dais state of cool deliberation,
and conseto to such u modification of his abstract
opinions, as the new circumstances which may be
brought tooter his observation might warrant. For
his own part, he fully concurred iu the importance
of the inquiry. and that it ought to be conducted
ou the must extended briar, and in the freest and
fullest manner. If it weir entered into with such
a spirit, uud a fixed deterunisatiou to make theories
yield to facts. then he would not abandon the idea
that he might have the satisfactioti of bringing the
Gentlemen opposite to concur in his view of the
subjeet.—(lleer, hear. )—ll e concluded by moy-
lug, as en amendment. the appointment of a Coin-
mince of Seemsy on the state of the Bank of
England. with reference to the resumption of
Cash Payments at the period now fixed by law,
and ihto such matters sa are comiected therewith ;
and that the said Costiniittee be directed to report
such information to the Hint'r as may be disclosed,
without injury to the piddle interests.—(Near.)
Mr. LEWES said, that it was absolutely necessary
a great country like this should have the benefit of
a proper, well-secured, and rxtrnsive circulating
medium for the transuction of its business. l-le
thought that with a view to the attainment of flits
object, it was desirable that the Government should
inquire into and lay ovum the real solid resorocee
of the empire, and not to throw dust tutu the eyes
of die people, by holding forth promises by de-
lay which could never lie realised. For his part he
would support the °rightist motion, for lie thought
the Member who brought it forward in the first
i .stance had e previous claim to the support of the
Ilmisr.—( Hear, hear.) . _ .

Mr. FRATIKLAND LLWIS said, he had listened
attentively to every flung that bud fallen from the
Bight Hon. Gentleman opposite, and lie confessed
he had not heard a single word to justify the course
winch it seemed to be the intention of Goverinnent
to take on the present occasion. It bud been already
fixed by law that the Bank should resume its cash
paymesits on the Sth July next; but now it aopear-
ed, that, upon an application from the Bank, the
Government had discovered that the Batik were
upside to resume cash payments at the stipulated
time. Whatever effect the incomparable speech of
the Mover of the original question had on his (Mr.
F. Lews's) mind, beyond all doubt the speech of
the Right I loss. Gesitleman opposite (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) made it clear to demonstration
to him, that the triessilt liinnicial system was bad
indeed. The whole hinged upon this Bank ques-
tion—and the country was now, after years of pro-
mise and years of sintering, to be told that the time
was not yet come when the country had a right to
look for the resumption of cash payments. It was
not, perhaps, in be wondered at, that during the
momentous eeenta of the war this question should
have remained io a fluctuating state. He was one
of those who never, curler any circumstances,
had wished to postpone the consultration of this
great question ; on the contrary, at all times he
wished to have it placid upon something like
a firm- and solid foundation. But time after
tiule was suffered to pas* away, and the circula-
tion of paper motley went on with unabated acti-
vity, though at each appuilited interval • the most
Positive assurances were solemnly given that the
restriction would cease at the expiratiou of the then
subsisting term. After the last peace, a term of
two year. w.:sstipul tied for. that at the expiration
of such a period it would be impossible to raise a
question upon the expediency of resuming cash
payinents.—f Hear, hear.)—Other circumstances
in their turn again interposed. and the same ii,de-
Minot and procrasiiiiiition were still iu bill force.--
Ileur.)—During all this Period, the public were
told that the Bank cullers were daily sitpplied with
bullion to prepare for ilia, expected payment in specie.
He would beg to call the intention of Parliament to
the declarations and expectations made and held
out on this subject by the Right Ilotimirlible
Gentleman opposite in the course of the last year.
It was impossible that these declarations and expec-
tations could he outdone—the postponement, when
it was last year proposed, was to be a final one. and
the matter was to base been set at rest fur ever.
But now, like a thunder clap, the fresh proposi-
tion fur still further time was submitted to the
House, on the plea that the Bank were unprepared
to resume cash payments. • How did this declara-
tion aciviril with their inoxii-ry last year to throw the
odium of the delay upon Government, and to wish
it to be generally understood that they (the Batik)
were .not only ready, lint most anxious to fulfil
their cash obligations ?—( Hear, hear, hear./