The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-03-22 00:00:00

r.

This day ■re publ..bel, in Torre Volumes Past Octas'w, pnee
le% an hoa tx!.,
LErtERS from Mu. PALMERSTONE to her
DAUGHTER; °leasing nwati.y, by entertdrosing
NarrAires. By M.O HUNTER, of Norwich.
Priot.4 for Longman, Hum. Rees, and Unne, Paternoster.
row.

" The pre.erit Letters evidently display a habit of obser-
vations on UlOll and manners; and no mean degree of Amen.
mutation, in rexard to cluruterc ; but it is of more
rminm-
ance to ..Id, that they exhibit, in the person of the Author, the
Patroness'', Virtue" Monthly Review, July, 1804
"These Lettees jostly claim a distinguished rank among
the lire•ary pnrehictimis of the present day, ins young persona
of the female sex, iu genteel life."
Guardian of Education, Dec. 1805.

.1•••

IMPERIAL PARLIAMANT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FRIDAY, MARCO Cl.
Caunsol was heard at considerable length, relative to the
Scou ApWal, John Glossal!, of Long Nieldre, Elea • Frolic's
=ad of Wein•A; 'Oa Mr ;dam, as leading Co insel on the
pan el the Appellant. After which their Linil,hips deterred
the further consideration of the case till to.morrow.
The Rills upon the tahle were frirwaided in their respective
*ages. Among these, the Foreign rroot s• Hill, the America!:
COIRIMIRIet. the Wool Fonortatiint, and the. Militia Officers`
Allowance gill, were read a third time. and !hissed.
Lord ELDON called the attention of the House
to the circumstance of His Royal Highness the
Duke of Clarence's Petition. (We believe under the
consideration of the Committee of Privileges, re-
speiting his right of voting, &e. as an Irish Peer.)
Respecting thin, when it should next come under
their Lordships' anuideration, he. should have
something to propose. Indeed the case was so
'clear, that he thought there could be no difference
of opinion about the point.
His Lordship then adverting to the Order in-which '
terrain appeals stood for hearing, moved, with re-
aped to the following: first, that the farther considers
ation or the cause, Kiley, e. the East India Company
whack (as we could collect) his Lordship proposed
should be fixed for Tuesday nest ; and that of the
Countess of Lincoln v. the Duke of Newcastle, on
the following di. ; and which were both ordered
accordingly. While on his fret. the Noble and
Learned Lord took occasion to allude to the
Declaratory Bill, which bad lately passed that
House. and been sent down to the Commons.
He regretted his :Armee nn the last discussion upon
the Bill. What he understood was, that it was pro-
posed to do away what was considered as the ob-
raionahle parts of his proviso, by a subsequent
clause, in which cases were to he specified, Mir
the better direction of the Learned Judges in the
Courts below. This turning nut &timately not
to have been the use, he should fed it his duty,
ehd an opportunity occur for a further discussion of
the BT, on its remin from the other House, to pro.
pose the introduiltion of a provision to that effect ;
as. from the generality of the declaration, were
the Judges not to be at liberty with respect to
deciding as to tie legal rights if demurrer, much
witched might result from such a declaration of
the law. On the other hand, were it held that
the Judges were to be at liberty in those respells.
us et.c.old be better known in a short time, he did
slot apprehend such oil consequences would result.
BM feeling the consideration as he then did, he
should endeavour to obviate such apprehended
danger, either is that way, or through the me-
dium of a bill still pending before their Lord-
ships, and on *Lich, he understood, the opinions
of the Judges were to be taken.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in consequence
of what had fallen from the Noble and Learned
Lord, addressed the House, at some length, upon
the topic ; in the course of which, he described the
various proceedings which had taken place. relative
to the hill adverted to, from the first propounding
of his Noble and Learned Friend's question to the
Judges, until the period of its departure from that
House ; and he also recapitulated the greater part
of the arguments he had offered upon the sithjeCt.
The result of those was, that he did not seem to ap.
plehend those dangers horn the Bull, which his No-
ble and Learned Friend feared. The judicial
powers of the Judges were not fettered by it, farther
than on a point which a great majority of them
had declared to be a general rule of law : they were
at hbeity to allow the witness his demurrer, upon
jest and legal grounds I and the witneis, *here he
thought his demurrer illegally or uejiisrly over-
:Wed, either in law or in equity, had his legal and
constitutional remedy, tither by means of a hill of
exceptions, or a dirett appeal to the jurisdiegion of
that House, the demur repot on all cases of law;
and then, as was frequently the praftice, the parties
and their Lordships may have the benefit if the as-
sistance, and the opinions of all the Judges, in
forming the,' decision.
Lord ELDON spoke in explanation in which
he observed, that the points of equity were never
put by that House for the opinion of the Learned
Judges.
Their Lordships then disposed of some routine
business ; and
Mr. Starchy, from the General Post-Office, pre-
vented an Acconnt of the Balances and Arrears in
the hands of the Post-masters, on the Sth of January
last, which was ordered to lie on the Table.
Their Lordships then adjnotned till to-me-row,
when the Royal Assent will be given, by Commis-
sion, to certain Bills which have passed both Houses
of Parliament.

HOME OF COMMONS.
Sir Stephen Cutuerel, from the P.Ory Cnoneil, pres.oted a
rearm .f the number of urn faded wader the Defence Ad,
apecropee Inc tru.r.ber win and deserted, and
thew who *Wont...red to permanent sermce, and of whom ne

•pportionmeat had 'Alen reeds By the Loids of Council. Co-
tton-el to be on the !atilt, and to Its
Mr. Samuel Smith pre. int. a Petition from the Nta!tateis

c 4 Lsot star, paving foe the repeal ot. the Act of last ve.o
Ordeted to hi 6111 the table. '

Mr. riu:+ten vitt. wed lea%e to Ming in a WI for the better
*J.neasarannant ore-
Mr Stavely, iro • the P it °lice, nrraent.d an arrow,' of
the arrears and hilances money in the haird...f the C..h.

teens'.
And Mr. Franklin, Gem the Custo.ns, a •,mi'ar account
fr Oar .a.tassnt, is far a. ete same *maid ire ...ad, up.
Ordered I. Ise en the ra'elte, and to he wonted.
A massage from the Lords intorm• d the Hawse they had
aree.l to the Scotch Vallic.•ot, the American Treats, the
Wou: EII,OILA on, and the dileresit English and Irish M.1.6.'
1111161
Mr. v ANsrr rA R I IrOVPA " that there he laid beast*
1 NOW all eV,' ,unt of the sutir.est is be paw un the Exch.que.„
Hails lotted for the envies of the year 1806 ;" 6hich hrlng
aereiA hi, he Itt•mght hp the sec t, notice that Le
teount move for their Ltratg reterrol to a Committee of Sup, Iy
ea Monday next.
rim ten 4111610116, •:.4 oae suilbr• and a half Exchequer

13," YE% ovIA thrflugh Cemo,iuze!, and were orderni to
be revrwtedian Monday next. •
Mr H.irthont broweht up the Br port of the Lxviring
Laws Rill, 'Alien was agtee4 to, anti the Bill ordered to be
teed a third time on Mcsl.4.y
DUBLIN PAVING ACTS.
The House haying resolved itself inm a Corn
mittee on the Dublin Paving Acts, Mr. Hawthorn
in the chair,

Lard ';'!vIPLE proposed a reviltstion, that the
sum of 20,0001. be voted at the disposal of the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, for the purpose of paving
and lighting the streets of Dublin.
Mr. ORMSBY asked what could be the ohjeEl
of the vote? or why the powers already given
to the Lord Lieutenant sere not deemed sufficient
for the purpose ?
Lord TEMPLE replied, that it was thought pro-
per to vote the suns regularly, before the debentures
should he issued.

Mr. ORMSBY then said, be was by no means
satisfied with the explanation afforded by the Noble
Lord.

Lord DE BLAQUIERE said, he was a member
of the corporation board which was suspended, and
he was convinced that the Lord Lieutenant had as
much power now to issue the money, under the
former Act, as he would after the passing of this
vote. He said he would take another opportunity
of explaining more fully, that the 17 or 18,0001.
which would be raised at the rate of 6 per cent
was much more money than would be necessary
before the next meeting of Parliament.
Mr. J. LA TOUCHE supported the resolution.
and said, that if this money Nate issued to the form: r
Board, the impression upon the public mind in Ire-
land would be, that it would he cots usted to a set of
persons who had not discharged their duty.
Alter some farther conversation, the resolution
was agreed to, and ordered to be reported on Mon-
day.
THE BUDGET
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
gave notice, that on Friday next he should bring
forward the Ways and Means of the year.
Mr. ROSE wished to suggest to the Noble Lord,
that he believed there was no instance, since the Re.
volution, of the Ways and Means being voted before
the House -.vas made acquainted with the milttary
expenditure of the year ; and submitted to him,
whether it would be right to bring the Ways and
Means forward before the public expences were as-
certained.

Mr. VANSIT FART replied, that whatever re-
gulations might be made in the Military affairs of
the country, must, as a matter of course, he sub-
mittrd to a chstinA Committee of Supply ; and
though his Noble Friend might explain the ways
and means he had to propose, it did not fellow that
any more would be voted, than what appeared upon
the E%timairs.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that the Right Hon Gentleman would have
an opportunity of stating any objeaionc that may
occur to lum, when the question, was brought for-
ward.

Mr. ROSE rejoined, that he knew the conversa-
tion was, at this time, irregular ; but he was struck
with the singularity of bringing forward the ways
and means, before the military elpences were made
known.

ELECTION TREATING RILL.
Mr. TIERNEY moved the second reading of
the Bill, when
Mr. FULLER rose, and said, he objeßed
to it altogether. In the county of Sussex,
which he represented, several of the eledors had to
come the distance of eighty miles, horn Hythe to
Lewes, for the purpose of exercising their eleiflive
franchise; and he thought it unreasonable that
they should be expelled to travel so far at their
own expence. This expence was no more than a
drop of water to the candidate, as it seldom oc-
curred above once in seven years, He could never
give his consent to any diminution of these rights ;
and, in this instance, he thought we should take
example from the great Conqueror of the Continent,
who attributed all his successes to the people.—
Here also the people should have the real means of
being satisfied, that they influenced every thing.
According to the profession of the Right Honour-
able Mover himself, the effefl of this Bill would be
to introduce into that House a new class of people.
In his opinion, the radical effeEt of it would be to
introduce into the House of Common., such persons
as could best harangue the populace. Ile always
thought, that the best sort of people to be in Portia-
mcnt,were those %slur diJ not care a farthing whether
they were in or out of i.. If the votes were to be taken
is the parishes where the eleelors resided, it would
evidently be attended with much more trouble and
expence, than by the present praCtice. He con-
cluded in a manner which we could not connect
with the farmer part of his sp►ech, by paying very
high compliments to the noble condud of Mr.
Whitbread, who was a splendid exception to the
line of Juvenal—
.. NobilAas cot snla atue sues

Mr. MORRIS said, he felt himself at disadesn.
tap, in differing ssith a Right lion. Gentleman,
who was so extremely conversant with the subjelt ;
but, being hostile to the measure, he knew that this
was the prnper stage for him to deliver his opinion.
He objeCted to it. as being declaratory of the Sta-
tute of William 111. ; and the more so, as it went
far beyond the fair construClion of that law. The
Aft alluded to, forbad giving money for travelling
expences, and for treating the bleSors ; but there
was no occasion whatever fur a Declaratory Bill ;
as, in his mind, no doubt could exist upon the
meaning of the Aft of King William. To furnish
meat and drink to the El./fors, or give them money,
under that pretence, was clearly against the Statute;
but it contained no prohibition against allowing
them a fair compensation for loss of time, or for
defraying the expence of carrying them to the place
of Eleerion. The only exception to the regular de-
cisions on this point, was found in the ease of the
Worcester Committee ; in co:sequence of whose de.
cision, a Bill passed that Home, which was op-
posed by Lord Mansfield, and rejefted in the other
House. In the case alluded to in a former debate,
of the Ipswich Committee, they were Not called
upon to try this point, as it was declared to be a void
Ida:lion. In the Barnstaple case also, the Peti-
tioner said, that he would not press for a decision,
nor rest his case on the adverse party's having paid
travelling charges, because he was himself pro-

hably iu t 1.:.! same 11:U:010A IL meted, however,
that • the proceeding of the H.relordshire
.Com-
mittee was in point; as it held, that futinsiting
the Electors with tickets, to he exchanged at
every post, was within the Statute ; but that Com-
mittee made no special report, as the other Candi-
date was declared to be ineligible In the Courts.
of Law, there were only three or four cases appli-
cable to this point. The strongest was that re-
ferred to by Mr. Tierney, in a former debate, of
Moore v. Francis. It was that of an aaion brought
by an innkeeper, against the Candidate, for what he
furnished to his Eleanrs. It was contended by the
Right lion. Mover of the Bill, that if the claim, in
the opinion of that Court, was illegal, Lord Ken-
yon would have nonsuited the Plaintiff, and not have
suffered evidence to have been gone into. These was
there a veidia for the Plaintiff ; but Lord Kenyon
declared it to be illegal for the candidates to indem-
nify each other against expence'. In the Court
of Common Pleas, however, the case was fully
and clearly decided ; for Lord Chief Justice Eyre
decided, that according to the Statute, an inn-
keeper could not recover any Thing from a candi-
date, for meat and think furnished to his eleaoi s.
upon the road. The House, he was convinced,
would not pass a Bill, the effea of which would
be, to disfranchise the eleaors of this country to
an incalculable extent, especially as there were not
any doubts upon the Mt. If the eleaor consented
to his loss of time, and living from his family at
his own expence, it was certainly as much as could
he expeaed, without putting him also to the
expence of travelling charges ; and, as the convey-
ance was not within the Al, this was positively a
new, and not, as it was termed, a declaratory Bill.
The inconvenience resulting from it would be much
greater than the advantages which could be pro-
posed. It was said, by the Right Honourable
Mover, that the Eleaor exercised an option, whe-
ther he were non-resident or not. This, however, he
must deny ; for the Eleaor was frequently obliged
to follow the market, wherever it may carry hint.
It was also suggested, that the suffrages may be
taken in the parishes where they resided ; but he,
for one, in all cases of exercising the eleaire fran-
chise, was a friend to the publicity of the thing. He
allowed as little weight to the observation, that this
Bill was only following the spirit of the Constitu-
tion; for, that the forty shillings, which was snade
the qualification of a freeholder, some centuries
ago, was equal to 301. according to the present value
of money. This was a proposition which he was by
no mears prepared to admit. The objeft of the
legislature at that time was, that the Eleaors should
be independent; and in the present state of things,
he must contend, that a freeholder of 40s. was to
the full as in Jependent as a freeholder of 301.
could have been some centuries past. He did not
argue thus from any apprehensions of the discon-
tent which this measure might be thought likely to
occasion throughout the country; on the contrary,
what he most feared was, that if such a number of
p-rsons should be disfranchised, it would produce a
languor and indifference towards the exercise of the
eleaive right ; which, however well it may suit
a despotic government, would be quite repugnant
to the spirit and true principles of the British Con-
stitution. Such was the case in France, where the
people were said to possess the elective franchise,
but which they were careless of exercising. because
they did not, in a country of despotism, ntiov: or
feel the benefits of it. AVith us, on the contrary,
when an eleaion occurred, every man thought him-
s• If interested in it; and the people were daily seen
crowding to the hustings, with an enthusiasm salu-
tary to the cause of lib. rty. He hol ea there was
not a member in that House who was not adverse
te, and reprobated those scenes i f riot and de-
lunches), which sometimes prevail in particular
eleainns, but the simple circumstance of carriage
was liable to no abuse ; especially if, instead of
giving money to the Electors to defray their own
expences, a cnntral should be made with the inn-
keeper for their conveyance only to the hustings and
back again.
Mr. F:LANCIS said, that as a case in which he
was Defendant, had been alluded to by the Learned
Gentleman, he was anxious to state what was the
real fait. He would begin, by assuring the House,
that there was no contra& between him and the
other candidate, to indemnify each other. The
Ler I Chief Justice. so far from deciding that the
inn-keeper had no remedy, had directed the Jury to
give full costs and damages, in which he thought
that he was not treated with the greatest justice.
The lion. Gentleman seemed to have mistaken the
grounds upon which he resisted the demand. Had
that verdict not been given, he should have thought
himself bound is fire reeirientie, to have fully in-
demnified him ; but what he objected to was, the
quantum of the charge, which he thought exorbitant.
However, whether the charge were just or unjust,
it was fully paid. If he thought the effect of this
Bill would be to disfranchise a number of Eleaors,
he should certainly oppose stsch a practical result;
but he could not suspect any such motive in his
Right Hon Friend, with whom he had fought
many a hard battle ; slot indeed as adverse parties,
hut as Members of a Society, well known tinder
the name of s, The Friends of the People." He
had received some admonitions, addressed equally
to his Right Hon. Friend, as to himself, not to
abandon in prosperity, what they supported in ad-
versity ; but, he hoped, that neither he, nor his
Right Hon. Friend, were likely to be accused with
justice upon that ; as, at the time he alluded to, he
was considered as a very moderate reformer. He
always sought for property, as that which conferred
the right of franchise, and wished not to extend it
farther ; but the efforts of himself; and those with
whom he acted, were not allowed fair play; for,
they were run down by the lump, as a set of
mischievous reformers. if he had looked to any
thing but property, for the eleftive right, he al-
ways thought that he should gain nothing, as those
who had power, would be sure to usurp the pro.
petty. He never was a friend to the system of
universal representation ; or to confer on every
hackney-coachman; on every sweep-chimney ; or
no every man who walked the streets, the eleftive
franchise. Even in the Roman Republic, there were
two classes of citizens, those that were eartie emu,
who polled their suffrages, and the Prrilatares, who
were considered only as useful for getting children.
He again said, that he was unwilling to susnea his
Right Hon. Friend of se far counteraaing his for-

met- prit.ciph•s, AS to attempt to disfrarc}.•s:
tors, instead of extending their franclistri ;
if that should be the effect of hi> bill, he would
only say, that he had a very great cora:ad:4l6, t,
reconcile.

M•. MORRIS explAined. that he took his stare.
ment of Mr. Francis's case from the Reports Pt
Court of King's Bench, which were gcnerall
lowed to be accurate.

„
Mr. I !LIMEY explained, that he never meant
to confine the sufrage to 40s or 301. ; brr, cr,
contrary, stated, un opening this qiiekti,in, tka
there was such a descr;ption as 4a,s. freehold. s.
Mr. W. DUNDAS said, he had only to express
his hopes that, should this I3ill pass, Scotland sv,.et.l
be altogether excluded from any operation of it.
Mr. JOIINSTONE thought such innov iti. rs
in the lasts of ele:tiun, highly dangerous; as, if
once admitted, there was no foreseeing litse far
they may proceed. It was said by Mr. Tirane),
that it would introduce a new class of men into that
House ; but lie would rever agree to any•chane,
agreeing as Fe did with Dr. Paley, who applaisslet
the constitution of that House, as open to eve:r
man distinguished for birth, family, and tairi.t,;
and if such men were not to be relied on, he lint a
not who were to be trusted.

Mr. LEE was convinced the Bill would operate
to the disf'anchisement of several thousand vote's.
and, therefore, he disapproved it. The question is,
will you disfranchise a man on account of Lis
petty? Certainly you ought rut. The 1!-11, he
said, did not extend to Ireland, and if it OP tiLt rai.s
into a Committee, he understood the liomutab:e
Mover intended to leave out Scotland. If it wt-ie a
good Bill, he saw no reason why Ireland should net
derive the benefit of it, and Scotland also; it ougft
to be eaten-led to all. It seemed to him, however,
so very objeftionable, that he should certainly vote
against it.
Sir R. Bux.roN thought the Bill would not dis-
franchise any man. The members sent into that
House ought to be independent, and the Eialois
also ; and if Eleffors cannot vote with independence,
they ought not to vote at all. The Bill made no al-
teration in the law of Election ; it only settled, as
it ought to do, the fait of Voters not having a right
to vote at the expence of the Candidate. Every
Eleflor should vote from a true spirit of patriotism,
for that Candidate whom he thought most deserving
the trust of representing the County or I:trough
for which he voted ; and not for such men only as
could, by the length of their purses, afford to pay
extravagant rims, in paying expences of travelling,
&c. If the Bill passed, it would grevent a great
deal of drunkenness. riot, and confusion, and should,
therefore, have his support.
Mr. COI:. RTENAY complimented the Hon.
Baronet on the purity of his notions, and thanked
him for endeavouring to make that House so angelic
an audience. No man, according to the Hon. Ba-
ronet, should vote but from pure patriotism. If he
go in a mail coach, at the Candidate's expence,
he most be corrupt ; but, if that were really the
case, he feared there would, at that moment, be
very few immaculate members present. He said he
was glad the Right Hon. Mover did not mean to
alter the qualification of the Voters from 40s. to
301. He had been informed otherwise. As to the
objections of the noise ; and confusion which these
votersoccasioned,whowerecarried from distant pant,
they alarmed him not. Cockades, and the liberty
of .huzzaing, are things which every Englishman
admires, and contribute to give him an idea of the
rights he enjoys, and on the possession of which he
prices himself. This was well expressed by one
of our celetrated Poets, he believed Dryden, who
speaks thus of an Elation time—

U When evely man enjoys,
lila liberty and property of noise .^
On the whole, the Bill appeared to him, highly
objeCtionable, as operating to the disfranchisement
of thousands, and he should, therefore, rote against
it.

Capt. HERBERT said, the 818 was a disfran-
chisement of a very extensive class of Voters, and
would take from the poorer classes what they looked
on as their greatest pride; and, if passed.would make
County Elctlions the mere Eldlion of the County
Town, and the immediate neighbourhood. He
should, therefore, oppose it.
Mr. Secretary FOX said, there was one ()Wien of
the Bill to which he was friendly, that of removing
duubts which at present existed. If that could be
done, it would be highly desirable ; and, as such,
he would vote for its going to a Committee ; hut he,.
by no means, in giving this vote, pledged himse!t
to any further support of the Bill. He thoaght it
necessary to say thus much, lest his vote should be
misconstrued.

Mr. BULLER said, that when such high author-
ities as the Chief Justices of the two Supreme
Courts, differ; and the Committees of that How
also ; it WAS necessary those doubts should be re-
moved ; and he wished. therefore, the Bill should go
into a Committee. He approved also of the Poll
being taken in large Counties, in different places, 25
it would tend much to lessen the expences. and es-
able men, of moderate fortunes. to offer themselves
as Candidates, without tte risk of being ruined.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, the Fr:?'
case he considered .s law on this stihjeft %vac, t/'
solemn decision of the Court of Common Plea,,
which said direftly, that Aas of this kind, such A;
paying for carriage., travelling expellees, &c. wo;e
a'ually illegal ; this was the only deci-ion;
other cases which had bees mentioned, were a:
Praia. He had, however, in his professional
capacity. attended a great number of Committers
or :hat House, and the turn and tendency of their
resolutions, were in general contrary to the decision
of the Court of Common Pleas. They have almost
uniformly said, you may lawfully furnish Vow*
with carriages, or with the means of procuring them
for themselves ; some have gone further, and allowed
also expenses forwards and backwards ; and 2°l"
have proceeded so far, as to give what they deemed
a reasonable compensation for loss of time ; the only
difficulty was to ascertain the craft queer** of each.
and what 11111 properly to be ascribed to their mo-
tives ; where no excess was, the Elea-lon was not
void. This shewed a very great diffeieisee bets:tea
the Courts of Law and the Parliamentary Jud;ca-
ture ; and in such a state of things, in what a an'
serable situation must a Candidate be? The Haus:
could not possibly wish thins of such vast import-
ance to remain in this state of nocertai‘ty; nor call

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