The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-20 00:00:00

CLERKS OF THE PEACE.

Sir J. NEWPoUT Lro•.giitup tii deport of tie
Clerk of the Peace (Ireland) Bill, which as
agreed to.
The Hun. Baronet then moved, that it be taLr a
into further consideration on Friday next:
Mr. COURPEKAY rose fur the purpose• I f 1..
!milli% some amendment, but was ioloone.l by
the SPEAKER that that was riot the invper period.
Lord CAEHASIPTOK, in expressing his opinion
on the Bill, referred to the case of an HMI. AI, a.-
ber of that House, Whir, he observed, had, iirichq
the existing law, dismissed from his 1.1 lUilllllll rf
Clerk of the Peace, an individual of unitary ago,
and perfectly capable of performing It;,i dory,
This act he did, not on account of arty alleged nisi...-
conduct, but merely on ti,e principle of sic role, sic
jubto, star pro ration rollloriss. To pre►rrit the
recurrence of such a circunumnice, it was though%
lit to bring its a Bill, which was to operate ma a
measure, 11l ten-orris, to prevent such a stretch cf
power in future. The present Bill was Inotighi
its couaequence•—but there was a defect iu the pir-
au►bie, where it was stated to be a Bill to " regu•
late the office of Clerk of the Peace in Irehrod,
with reference to the grant of said office hy the
Castor notolorint." Now this was detect+►.,
be-
cause there was, at prewar, a suit depearlissu, Nr
decide whether the appointment was iii the Ono-a
or the Castor. That part which rekted to tile
Cartos might he omitted, and the pieau►ble aou'•l
then refer to the regulation of +he office genrial
Mr. COUR/PERAK tif.,groited the propriety of ti.oi
Noble Lora's pairtpormig his ob,ervstiosis to the day'
to which tt wits intended to re-commit the All.

Lord CAIMAUCTON raid, he wino to Fih
cede to the iirtipiisittini—and, t‘lirsi the ii; finer mot
cattle, he *instil introduce such liberation, 11,4 (,).i 'll
iilakt this both a useful and till
neither of wind' it skus at prettill, .1% h:
PrUV.!. in saying tlllll, he did 'tat Int4i. to t.a•

ore the wiews or Motive% of the Right Hon.
B4,„„et (Sir J. N.,wport), who introduced the
he had uo douht that they were pure ; but
certainly lie thought that, when the lloo....Barouet
formed the Bill, he had not all line wits about him.
when the proper period arrived, lie would produce
extraordillary document, one which would
61,IrriSt the House, and was worthy of serious at-
tention. He would point out the mean. of pee-
vettieg extensive fraud and peculation in Ireland—
A( wring in that country at least 50,0001. a-year,
„,aua which k thought was well worth looking

titer.
Sir J. NEWPORT said, it bar merely his inten-
tion, that the Bill should he printed, with certain
*sawiirlments of his Learned Friend (Mr. Courteiiiiy),
re-commi,ted on Friday. He had no interest
„o,„toier, in bringing it forward—he was not von-
word with any Clei k of the Peace in
us such a measure appeared to be neceigary,
b, had fulfilled a public duty, in introducing it.
The Bill ass then ordered to be re-committed
Ge Fridsy next.

BANKRUPT ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion of Mr. J. SMYTH, the House re-
:'self into a Committee to re-consider the
B. of the above Bill.
slittrlTOß-GENERAL adverted to a clause
t dill, which pointed out those individuals who
t.i he subject to the Bankrupt Laws, and con-
trolled that it was calculated to produce a greater
de.4.ee of litigation than almost any other provision
OA could be drrittedi.
ftle, ,I. SMYTIt said, the clause had been consi-
.le„dip and approved oryby mai.y eminent Lawyers.
As the law at present Mood, great difficulty existed
in knowing who did, and.iho (lid not, come within
the meaning of the BAnkrept Laws—and the clause
was iiderided to remedy this defect. Ile would,
however, have the clause re-modelled, so as to meet
the trollies of the Learned Gentleman.
After some conversation between the Solicitor-
C-neral, Mr. T. Councils'', Mr. Grant, Si J.
Newport, Mr. Serjeant Cinslow, Mr. Finlay, and
M.-. Martin, the dative was rejected.
The clause visa read for esabling trustees, sip.
proved by the majority of the creditors, to disin.
bole the property of one who declared himself in-
competent to meet his engurtnentP. clause
else sorted certain acts which should be considered
acts of bmikrieptcy.
Mr. J. SMYTH contended warmly for the neces-
sity of typifying the arts of trustees acting under
the authority of the wittjur part of the creditors.
In support of his view of the case, lie mentioned
oceorwrwee which scene time since hail come to
lis knowledge. A tradesman within the Bankrupt
Laws. its London, finding himself embarrassed,
laid open his affairs to his creditor:, and truster s
Peeing appointed to administer his property. a very
considrnible dividend was made without muds delay
or expense. The tradesman had had dealings
nn
the West Indies, where one of his creditors re-
sided, who by some fatality was not consulted on
this occasions, and who WAS not apprised of the
trinanidinii. This creditor returned to England
about twenty years ilftCrlTBllll4, funk out a cont.
mission of he.ikruptcy against the trader, and
yourodled the trustees to pay hilts the full :Imolai
of his debts out of their own pockets.
Tile Sot ICITOR-GL:NBRAL commented at some
length upon ti.e clause, to the principle of which
be lied iso objection, but it seemed to Inin very
vaguely expers•stl, and calculated to give more oc-
Casson to litigation than any of the exi.ting laws on
bankruptcy. He also objected to it, because it 11.-
4nfeted what was acknowledged to be law already
for instance, it was clearly under:A(lA to be the
low, dn•t if an individual, leaving his house with-
Pia( ut the time any intention of not iroyi,.K
his crednors, should prolong his absence with such
intention, it should he considered au uct of bank-
iuptev. There was no necessity of declaring this
to be Saw in the present Jill.
Feb. it. GRAN? observed, that the present clause
would considerably increase the difficulties of a
subject already too complicated. There were in
the existing laws 16 or 17 acts of bankruptcy
created, the present clause event to create six
, by which means traders would be so enviroued
with dangers, that, in any difficulties arising, it
would he impossible fur the most honest man to
ovoid act of bankruptcy.
After a burgher conversation on this clauses

Mr. J. SMYTH coinented to withdrew it, on the
thhit he wosiM remodel it, end bring
it up on ti slab-villein. evening.
Sir C. BURRELL suggested the propriety of post-
polling the furthe► pit-situp upon. this subject, us
the witiartti•ett int the l'enryti Election Committee

were tit attendance.
Mr. K. MARTIN vras ready to sit up until four
o'clock to the mo gto see the discussion out.—
lie ail* au advocate fur the propriety and regularity
of padianteotary proceeding,.
Mr. Jona tistr rtt said he kid no objection to the
po-tpinienient of the present question.
Tlie Ctiairinun then obtained leave to report pro-
gress, and it &split on Friday next.
PE:NUYS ELECTION.

On the motion of Sir C. Buttitir.r. the nonce
re..,!vrd itbelf ° • Committee of the whale
House upon the Proryo
Tile first witness examoord was Mr. John Key.

usnleredent et long examination, the substance
~f w:ncli did not in guy material point differ front
i.hrt of the tnrnier witnesses. We continue to fur.
hear, as we have hitherto done, from entering no.
ce,o•arily into the details. In the course of the
va,tainiation of the witness, one or two Hon. Nlein.
ben, enniplJineil of the ..... to Cornwall
floough a public Journal. more than once (our
readers need not he apprised that tl►e coniumati-
cdtion was not nisde through ours), of a I.u►tiul
blotraet 4.f the evidence of the witue►srs, and its
the particular instance alluded to, ta 'robin:ilium of
a part of the eVitlenCil which bad been alsoust at
the moment expunged from their mitiutro.
31r. MAU1114.41 FIIZOORALD sa►d, that he was
the list mats who would wi►h to trench upon the
practice of communicating to the public the sub.
stance of wild passed lii parliamentary debate.—
He appreciated too much the value of such infor-
in.ition, to dwell too fastidiously on what might be
the incidental embarnessments wind) such a course
occloionolly induced. But he did slims that if
ever the Huu►e could feel it►rlf called upon to its•
wpm ill authority to pretreat or to punish 0117

THE B R ns H PRESS.

I.ON DON,
THURSDAY. M►Y 20, isig.

the debate on Mr. TIERNEY'S motion, in the
House of Co 1111111111 l on Tuesday night, is That
the Huuse do resolve itself into a Committee on
the State of the Nation," affords ample field for
grave and serious consideration. It was candidly
admitted by that Hight Hon. Cenerman, that the
motion, if tarried, must Milkier the overthrow of
the present Ministere, and they acknowledged the
jtistice of the remark. Apprised of the consequence
of their defeat, they had made every possible exer-
tion to avert it—and when they came to action, they
conducted themselves like men who knew they
fought fur their existence. With respect to the
fulness of the attendaiice, it would be idle to
compare the th%ivivat with that un any other
greet contest prior to the Union with Ireland,
when the Huuse obtained an addition of one !Mo-
dred new Members. The intertul since that period
!tarnishes the only true ground of estimate, and on a
comparison with the great divisions in that time,
the attendance of Tuesday night ores the fullest on
the lecorils of the House. Oes the New Admit&
strewn in 1807, the total number was LO5 ; on
the Cntliolic question in 181%815 ; and on Tuesday
night, 536—ottio,ive of Messrs. Wvarr, PHILLt.
SOW'. FRANK LAND LEWII, and Fakesi•vine,
who were present at the debate, bat retired before
the division. 'flint the majority on the part of
Ministers is a triumphant our. we are not disposed

•
to deny-s-that i! must have greatly rxceeded
their own expectations, is not less apt wrens. Had
they not feared the result, it would have barn
scarcely necessary un the part of Lord CasTI.EItIAGH
and Mr. CAirNIN• to remind their retainers and
expel:l4**a% Of the good cheer they now enjoyed,
and the danger they ran of losing it. Georials
of old sought to animate their troops by 'rutin&
tog them that they fought for their religion, their
relatives, and friends; but it was reserved fur the pre-
Stilt Cosuitimider of the Alieisterial troop?, to stimu-
late their valour, to inflame their courage, :Mil
louse their energies, by threatening them wish the
loss of their loaves rod fishes, their beef and their
plum-pudding. should they themselves to
he vanquished. It might become a London Alder-
man of old, addressing the train-bands, and 111
accords with the dignity annexed by vulgar opinion
to the !louse of Commons. Hut we must not
rashly censure his Lordship. He probably did not
coritymplate attiring his friends and retainers many
country Gem:emelt, of large fortune, independent
Pritictides, generous temper, and high and delicate
sense of honour. !le addressed iiiinseif to his
placenicii and pensioners. The result she's!, that
the argument Was nut lost upon them. The
filiiiorily, of which u list is given in another
port of our Paper, was composed of very differ-
rut materials. To a forandable number they
added the moral force of character. Had office,
and the good cheer accompanying, been their
object, it might have been accomplished lung
since. They might have sacrificed their principles
in gross on the Catholic Question, or gone over in
detail to the standard of the enemy, where talents
and activity have been long invited by a high
bounty. Hut the good of their country has been
always found with thrin a greatly superior consi-
deration, and they have remained steady at their
post, the iistlefotigable but ill-requited guar-
dians of their country—sorry when defeated in
their exertions for its prosperity, and rejoicing
when, by their interference, they can protect it
against the weakness and selfishness of Ministers.
While, however, we admit the display of their
strength as calculated to dispel the fears of Minis-
ters for their political existence, we trust that
they will use their triumph with discretion, and
not presume to force upon the country oppressive
measures, to which they have professed themselves
wedded, sod against which the country has as dr-
cidedly declared its abhorrence. Among these is
the Income Tax, that bed of thralls to the people,
but a bed of rush on which Lord CAIITLEILEAGVI
and his friends long to repose.—We throw this
out merely as a hint to the public to be on their
guard—
" The bright day briaga forth the adder, and that craves
wary walking."

to another part of our Paper will be found •
long series of Resolutions, passed by the General
Court of Director* of the Batik, by way of answer
to two questions proposed to them by the Secret
Committee of the House of Common', relative to
the time for which, in their opinion, it would be
expedient to continue the restriction on Cash Pay-
meats, and whether any, and what legislative enact-
meiits would facilitate the return to • metallic cur-
rency. The Bank decline giving a direct answer
to these questions, on the ground that the Restric-
tion Act was altogether a measure of general policy,
and with the exception of recommending a gradual
repayment of the Government debt to the extent
of ten millions, they are of opinion that it is not in
the power of Parliament to expedite the return of
the country to a secure metallic currency. This,
they affirm, must depend on the foreign exchanges,
over which the amount of their issues and the votes
of Parliament can exercise no control. It is in-
teresting to hear the Bank delivering their impres-
sions on this subject, and stating the motives that
have influenced their general conduct ; we have
therefore presented their Resolutions to the public,
but their reasoning is, we conceive, extremely un-
satisfactory, and their opinions such as cousist
neither with theory nor practice.

a'l'e have received the Paris Papers of Sunday
lut. In the Chamber of Peers, on Saturday, the
first projet of law, relative to the Press, wits adopted
by a majority of 130 against 50. In the Chamber of
Deputies, the debate was continued relative to the
Accounts of Ministers; it merely embraced a ques-
tion of form as to the mode of proceeding in audit-
ing the Public Accounts. The further diirctission
was adjourned to Monday.
On the 15th instant. the RENO presided at •
Council of Ministers. It is reported that a Com-
mission, composed of the Bishops of the principal
Episcopal Sees of the kingdom, is charged to revise
the formula of the tidal taken by the French Kings
at their Coronation, so as to make its tenor in
unison with the existing institutions of the country.
The Duke de RICHELIEU is at Venice. The
arrival of Madame MANSON in Paris from Tou•
loot, accompanied lb! one of her brothers, excites
the most eager curiosity in the French capital.

Yestercay VISCOIIIbt Casimaitaadts had a long
andirote of the Paine Masa?, at Carltuu
lloosr.

We understand that Sir S. C. HONTWOOD has
made a moat Successful canvass fur Hythe, and that
bis Liends are fiery sanguine in their raptetatiuni of
imectva.--(lCentish Chroatele.)

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