The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-30 00:00:00

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to:o
Mr. A. te-robell, and other Members from the Bowie of Cow- 1
i
meat.
, of a= the Olssgove Ges.lllllaea seeerai ptivate Bills, I
whet Otoereid e first time. -.
ted ccr .
of
the
Trees.
Adriad, from the Trerathro. presen wancei
44410:1111,...ues relative to tsp.tersi Supesenr.eattol. -110 •
'' CATHOLIC CLAIMS.
il • jig .STEM eard.LOIA, presented a petition front the Mayer.
sailiß,tt aretCeefirtemeloi of the City Of Oxford, agair.st the Ca.
Moho Clitious-Lair',*_.': tl,a :sidle,'
EQUITAfILE LOAN BILL. •
Tim Fend elf SHAFTESBURY presented a retition from the
IstiVah of Alt Saints, Faisal, against the'Equintble Lasan Bill.
':r:. 1.... art oftLAUDCRDALE prmented a petition from the
.... Ch:itchrierilirs. ilcuseho!ders, and others, of the parish of St.
Paul, verrent-gorden. against the Equitable Loan Bill.
Loot HOLLAND twesented a petition in favoor of the Bill,
hum fiery-I,:e etifferers by the recent fire in the heose of a pawn-
braked named Blackburn No: 16, Saffron-ER His Lordship ob-
served. that out of the fOrty.five persons from whom he presented
the peition, there were only two who were able to write their own
rums. They Stated, that by the extortions cr the pawnbrokers
they were ohliged to pay no lean titan 210 per cent. on the sums
they }ammo. do and that in consequence el the late fire (on which
sot,etr. the Lat.:,..lature had never interfered) they had lost the
greater ;sin of what they possessed, and had Etc:. reduce) to the
. ffe.it-..,... t misery. They stated also, that during e`C past year three
tees i a 'the betimes of pawnbrokers had reduced many oocrhorrowas
. en aped ditortset. He admitted the general principle, that private
eperuirionot between man and man ought nut to be the subjects of
lagedadve treneroee; but as this was a peculiarly hard case, he
had fad it Lis duty to present the petition.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, that the pawnbrokers had
rinentionelueed their rates of interest.
L.,ro f 11)LLAND el.:served, that he was sure the person who
talaerad 00 petition in his hancl'would not have done so, if he had
tact heetoperfeetly certain of the truth of the assertions contained
a': lilt.,
'l."ie reinter was then laid on the table.
int GitOSHEI4OII rose to present a petition from an indivi•
deli proyii.g that the House would enact measure• effectively to
pihrreot all cruel eetwriments ea animals ; but, hie Lordship ob.
serv-u.as tie petition contained mattered which he did not altogether .
•Oprovc-lit would not "impose that it be laid upon their Lent-a/tips'
tables • Ho wet; Id howeves take adeantage of the opoertvnity thus
write
dim
cf slating that he wee not one r.bo treated the subject
I'. L., glen thought it worthy the serious attention of their
Alit,. ,Le would not say that at the preset 111019rWt he would ,
14 iooliocd to legislate upon it. although a time might come when
lilt irOuttl feel it hik duty to wish the contrary. Ile thought bow-
. rifer !..trit atollonsoirable Member of the other House bed :lone good
sec.ice to the cammey in hrir.ging before Parliament the Bill for
.iroventing firvelty to Animals, although be (Lord Grosvenor) did
r...!: thi-O it gouid be right altogether tn orevert experiments on
aetntnl;-exocriments which frequently led to the most beneficial
remits and the, w.ost veluable discoveries ; fez example, the chol-
la:ton of :t-- Wood and the tying of the arena.
Lo-d HO irLAND presented a petition from Margate against
the Mareate Ga.,..ngbe Bill
fJo-tbe ma, ion of Lord AIELVILLE, the Scotch Juries Bill,
with the erementacnet, were'sgreed to, and the 8111 was ordered to
bee agased.
The House then adjourned.
• MOUSE OF COMMONS, Teem:tat, Melton 29.
.
'ooed B.iGWELL presented a petition from Dahlia for leave
tart:rine M a Nu to establish a Fishing Company in Dublin.-
Orefacirto Ito on the table.
Ilk. CAToTAORPE presented a pedion. from the Tropical
Ease Aorber4.omnpariy, rraying to he allowed to sue and be sued
* the name of theirletremry.-Ordered to In en t'te table.
WEST INDIA COMPANY BILL.
Mr. MA lIRYAT proposed the secocd retdieg of the West
Indio Company Dill.
fri r. F. BUXTON opposed the sewed rmding,. not on the
irrotrn,l of its being a ,tilot stock cnomano. but on pun eiple, be-
cau:sz this Cow:play was mteblithed to ITiee in slave,; it gave the
pdher to purchase 40,0t* of our fellnw-creaturn.
Sir. ROBERTSON was surprised that the Him. Member, who
,von the champion of so many of the new co:genie*, should offer
aly op:mtition to a Bil: which was calculated to do much good to
the retro Imeuisdon of ear %West India islands.
AlOordian THOM psoN briefly supported the 13i11. He said
it only granted the power of ruing and being sued in the name of
111Sik Secretary.
Mr. HUME could not conceive what objection there ehoull be
to rant this Compeny the same privilege which bad been granted
Sittiont hmitatinn to twenty other Companiee.
Mr. W. SMIT/1 objected to the Ed], beeettee he considered it a
mocopoly el' the worst dew:rimier. fie :coked upon it rather as a
puhlic than a private BM.
:... El GLICIi, vappotted the Bill, and-
Afmr a few Wr......A.S from Mr. Huila. ;did Mr. Alawatwo, the
R.ll wet read a whorl time, and ordered to be committed.
ROMAN CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION BILL.
Mr. H. DAVIES presented a petition from Bristol against any
&silo" concessions to the Roman Catholics; also a similar petition
tram the 'Ministers and Chutchwetdetis of .he parish of Bedminster,
(roomy of Setnerach-Ordered to he on the rehlo.
SALMON FISHERIES.
Co/rinel WOOD prescoted a petition [rem Glamagenshim,
compleioing of the destruction of 5a1...r00 by the erection of weirs.
The Hon. Slembet said he thought salmon a species of ettional
visedsh, and their total destruction a kind Meatier* evil-Ordered
to 9S on the table. - • '
13LAEPSENTOUS PUBLICATION'S.
• . HUMS "reverted a petition from Richard Carlile, cun-
r• of unjust .1171Prisormefils and or having had various conies
t, Je 40
kii taken, 'tinder pretence of teim: blasphemous, which the
imaltioner cootend..d were by no means.of a leavpiienious character.
Amongst the incite taken were 2M copies of " Cebbe:es Register,"
and =iv eoplettpf a Voleey's Ruin of Empirei." The petitioner
aged-the Ileusdto fake these dicer:stet:Wl endemics most serious
tonsidenition. and take sorne stems to put him in possession of his
property, which bad been illvaliy sell:ad and detained by Govern-
meet.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, the Hon. Member who
presented the petitich was altogether miso.ken if he supposed that
tl'ealtenerljalleged .to have beam seized was in the possession of
his'olejestyk Government. The property was seised by the Sheriff
In the Mieution of his duty; and if it had been badly appropriated,
the Sheriff and not his Majesty'. Government was responsible, and
the petitioner had hit remedy in a Court of Justice.
Mr. &metal? PEEL observed, that it would be impossible to
lay dean any merits! rule in cases of Oats nitrite. As to the parti-
cular individual fat question, nothing multi exceed the violence of
the conduct. He Co r. Peel) het no wi.,h to see Carlile detained in
cost Ody leoger then the circumstances of tr e ease might seem to re-
ctum The siitor of this man was set free br his Majesty's Go.
emeotnent to soon as the period had expired which was deemed
eoutvalent to the Site that she had teen sentenced to pay. So much
the emarary of submission to the laws was the conduct of this man,
teathe cotoopted persons in the neighbourhood of his prison, :.nd
thttregh their astetty canderaesl the eirentrion of his books. This
eartaittly wee en •easen wrbt he shauti be kept for ever in confine.
tem but if. Mitred of doing all in his power to violate the law, he
had-yielded with batwing submission to io. decision, no severity
*MO have been exereixd towards bin?. With reference to that
11Q.a.e being yelled on to interf•re, he. thought they should be very
reldOthot indeed to meddle with the tvittr,:e lit criminal justice.
lilt. HUME replied, that the petition:4 :rierely prayed that the
lav which aoplied to Ms ewe should be co: vetoed. lie knew that
Cati.le had made two attifiitp/4 nooession of hie property.
but he dad not know top whtrge 14 law it had been detained.
A
ti .m him. He thmeghe tilt . -4:10.111 a hard one, and knew
c. t haw he could abode rod
The petition was rhea EtOtiglHl4l,..atid ..rdered to lie on the
mote.. . - a • ,
Mg. HU3IE moved for it return of the persons practising as ape-
the:axle. to England and Welts, with the number of certificate,
granted and the sums. rectiocd, together with the application of
1!1041e momit.....Orelzretl. •
TtTlitE-IRELAN.D.
'3 Jo NEWPORT eon to present a petition from certain land.
enter sea in the county of Calk, complaining of the herded'', and op.
loonier' thee endured ift belr.g brought a distance of ffil miles to
tea Bishopli Coortio &fend suits for tithe*, when the same might
hate het* recovered" on applie.irkn to any Magistrate residing
w ithia.A. rent s Arabi peeio,- • -•-• o.Oleavelsh- "here mere Ilfoe142;"
;titivates within the distract, a ::,- v.v. m' whom might have decided
the gaestiao—The petition war ti•en brought up, and ordered to
lie on the tab!s.
...; . FQ:ITY SH ILI-INGS FREEHOLDERS.
Mw. LITTLETON gave der:cc that on the 14th of April 1.,
wonid move for leave to being in a B:11, limiting the elective tram.
er.isit:n-Irmlsald:
RO*lo.l CATHOLIC CLERGY.
Lard F. L. (;tlWES.yase notice. that an the 20th of April he
would more fat lets* to-Sring in a Yill to make provision for the
R %Men' etithe.ic ciergyligreiamet.
meam a. eg mooed e.etain returns relative to stamp duties
ie.•lteheagh-Ordireet.
Mr. ;LUCE, in presp4pgitpetitioe. from • number of re-
ettectoble merchacts sou lit; ele.o: the arty of London on the sub.
;a,:: of the Vero ...sows, aald that it was likely to be followed up by
S*7OC3l o'bera of a shelter tender cy. St far from its being *ban.
oi.getsuo that moiety of lifo. a quarter 'theta t be imposes:l open foreign
earn. it were'routth What that. the Caro Lade should remain uoal.
Mod,
Sis lE.PARNBLL tatty pesepene h..; motion relative to the
Corn Lowe.
MT. FILTSKICSON rote, but
Thirr/PEA.F,ER iota/paled and said. that the question being
on the *tinging tap of a poutioo, it was not in order then to alter
tee noaitte of a morion. . .
Ms..it RlO 4 2 Zltil!, thin no fliateal:ory arrungement yield be
reeda trail they kaew what was to be :he duty imposed no foreign

a he Trztta.,, was tins broacht tto-
PA11.14 tb.:n ratans/ed. that in wr.recrience of the
cr.l ior tits day when he was to
e 7, or' pht Lrw...7:1 ha inution rt'vire to Ilia Corn itr/Ils he
thi% iron :he I a) theAletla of April.
Anciviltn -rneMP33N rose to prestat a Petition frown num-
bs* vl Corn Ci:y of Lohtlon. praying that-Bonded
riight De wr,i, ht,T.e:r7:rript.ci, !reinject to twrtaia- te-

Mr. IiIISIE rose tonro;e for additional papers, with a view to
obtaining further information with respect to the war in India.
The papers already laid on the table of that House by his Majesty's
Ministers, afforded information so scanty. that even a person
already well acquainted 'it'll East lotiis affairs would be but little
enlightened by them. Of how much less advantage must they be
to those who had not previously given much attention to the sub-
ject. He therefore wished for more papers, that lie might be
sufficiently informed on the subject before the Recess was over.
lite would therefore move for copies of all papers relative to the
Burmese War, and to recent events at Chittagong. He would
likewise move for all papers respecting the occupation bf Chapore
by the East India Company, returns of the revenue derived there-
from, and of the troops maintained on that island. lie ex-
pressed his hope that the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite
would not object to granting the information which he sought.
lie further thought it important to know whether the treaties in
question existed or not. and he trusted his Majesty's Ministers
would not object to afford every information upon the subject
which it was in their power to give.
Mr. ROBERTSON began to express his desire for some more
definite ioformation on the subject of the Burmese War, when
Mr. WYNN rose to order—He felt it necessary to object to the
latitude the Honourable Member (Mr. Robertson) seemed dis-
posed to indulge in. The question before the House was for the
production of certain papers which had no connexion whatever with
the subject of the Burmese War; and he thought is necessary to
deprecate the course about to be pursued, not only on the ground of
irregularity, but because it would be highly incoovenient to enter
upon such a discussion on the present occasion and under existing
circumstances.
The SPEAKER understood the Honourable Member to hare
risen for the purpose of seconding the motion of the Honourable
Member for Slontrose (Mr. Hume). In such circumstances, it was
necessary fur him to confine his observations to the subject of that
motion.
Mr. ROBERTSON• would repeat, he thought some more in-
formation was called for than had as yet been afforded the coantry.
There existed, in his opinion, no just ground for the war carried on
against the Burmese. The reasons adduced to support the pro-
):riety of it appeared to him frivolous in the extreme. If there
were any other causes or reasons, he wished them to be brought to
light. The Burmese and the East India Company complained of
muttual sggressieris. AR the statements on the subject were e. r-parte
statements. 'the natives asserted they pout smd an ancient right to
the possession of the Island (of Sharpore) invaded by the East
India Company. The Governor-General, on the contrary, main-
tained it of right belonged to us, because it was situated nearer to
our side of the river than to the Burmese. This was at best a
doubtful mode of deciding the question, for on the same prin.
ciple might France lay claim to the possession of Jersey and
Guernsey.
Sir R. 'WILSON wished for the information likely to be afforded
by the papers moved foe by the Member for Montrose, previous to
entering farther into the present discussion.
After au observation from the SPEJACER and Mr. ROBERTSON
respeo-ting the point of order,
Mr. WYNN professed to have trot the least objection to the pro-
duction of the papers required. He had objected to a similar
motion of the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Hume) the other night,
merely on the ground that the documents required would throw no
additional light upon the subject. With regard to one portion of
the present motion, that for information respecting the amount of
the revenue of the island of Sharpore, he thought that had nothing
to do with the question. It was perfectly immaterial whether it
produced a revenue of sor 5.000 rupees. With respect to another
branch of information required by the lion. Member for Montrose,
it would be utterly impossible to afford it unless the House were in
a situation to explwer the Sergeant at Arms to bring the Emperor
of Ara to their bar and examine him, touching the nature and
amount of his resources. However, he (MeWynn) could have no
objection to join in laying before the House all the information
possessed by the East India Company upon the subject. With
respect to the treaties which bad been alluded to, they were now in
the press, and would be hid upon the table as soon as printed.
After a few w. rds in explanation from Mr. HU ME,
Copies of the papers were ordered.
BUBBLE ACT.

Mr. P. MOORE, in rising to move for leave to bring in • Bill
for the repeal of the 6th of George I. observed, that capital to the
amount of 160 millions was at present embarked in Joint Stock
Companies. For his part he hoped it would be soon double and.
treble that amount. He said this deliberately, notwithstanding all
he had heard with regard to the specious and deceptive nature of
the sekemes now prevalent. He was aware those were said to be
bubble schemes, and coming under the operation of the Bubble
Act. Ile had the honour to be a member of some "of those Com-
panies.ausi enulil say so far from Meriting the character they had
received, lie behoved" them to be instituted for feasible and pro-
mising purposes, and that the highest principles of probity and
integrity actuated the parties connected with them. Holding such
an opinion of the majority of those Companies he was naturally
desirous of discussion, because that would set the public right with !
respect to them. Government itself was interested in those Com-
panies which contributed to the increase of the revenue in the
shape of stamp duties on the transfer of shares. Ile pledged him.
self, if he obtained permission to bring his intended measure before
the House to be prepared wick such reasons on the second reading
of the Bides he trusted would be deemed satisfactory. He would
not trouble the House farther at present than to ask leave to bring
in a Bill to repeal the 6th George I. against undue practices its lend-
ing mcney on bottomi7, &c.
The A'I'TORNEI •GENERAL said, the Act in question (the
6th of George I.) referred to a vast variety of different objects,
among others it bore upon various rights and privileges of the city
of London. An Act so complicated in its nature, and embracing
so many distinct objects would require more consideration in an
attempt to alter or repeal it, than appeared to have been given to
Nate subicct by the Hon. Member for Coventry (Ma P. Moore).
He would, therefore, feel it his ditty to oppose the introduction of
the intended Bill.

Mr. P. tilt ENFELL—The object of his lion. Friend (Mr.
Moore) laid been to call the attention of the House to the state of
the law as it related to Joint Stock Companies. The great uncer-
tainty and undefined nature of the law upon that subject could
not fail to produce a coneriponding anxiety in the minds of the
parties concerned. It would be well then to make the law de-
finitive upon the subject, the more to as the provisions of the
Bubble Act never could be brought into operation on account of
their severity. Last week he observed a new Company started, at
the head of which stood the name of • Prince of the blood royal.
Another Lotnpany was supported by the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, and the entire Bench of Bishops. It was monstrous to sup-
pose that those high and venerable personage should be left liable
to a premuoire under an obsolete Act of Parliament, for being con-
nected with a Joint Stock Company. It was perf,ictly necessary
that some regulation should be introduced for the purpose of
making the subiect intelligible.
31r. ROBEEITSON thought the High Personage alluded to,
and the Archbishops and Bishops, no more entitled to an exception
in their favour, or protection agemst the operation of an Act of
Parliament, then the meanest subject of the realm,
Mr. ELLICE would vote in favour of the introduction of the
Bill, without pledging to support it on the second reading, till he
should have lowed its particular object. The Act which it was
intended to reveal was nothing more nor less than en Act to set up
one great bubble at the expence of pulling down all others. In the
House of Ludt and in that House the most litters! sentiments had
beam ext/owed by his Majesty's Ministers and others on the sub-
jest of Joint Stock Companies. It Thad been said. let individuals
establish Compiutiesysmaltgemit the seine Jim liable to al/ the
rireVentlselitielit upOn-Triudulent transactions, it inch should
otmitted. But in another place an alum bad been excited,
and peopte had bean warned agunst entering into what he thought
were generally beneficial schemes and undertakings. He repeated
be looked on the majority of those Companies as beneficiaL sod
thought Whetter for individuate to invest their surplus capital in
them than to equimiter it in lending money to Foreign Power., who
had been bankrupts half a dozen times alrtroly and were likely to
.be so again. In all mutters of this kind it would be much better
to let trade and commercial mitten tied their own level. At the
time when every encouragement bail been given to trade with the
Spanish Colooles in that House, opportunities had been taken in
the Court of Chancery to hold out doubts and suspicions on the
subject of the risk to be so incurred. It was stated nothing defi-
nitive had been datermined on with respect to the recognition of the
independence of the South American States, and that consequently
those whet traded with then] did It at their own peril. A similar
coursehan been pursued is the same, place with respect toJoint Stock
Companies. The public were warned, and every obstacle thrown in
the .way of their success. It was titles: that a stop should be put
to this: the public should understandlite course to be pursued.
As he saw no better opportunity ter tharporpose than would be
&Worded .11; the discussion on the introduction of the present
Hal; he wuald therefore support it in its preliminary stage, unless
the Hon. (letterman opposite would take upon hint to state
whr.her Havernmest intended to interfere upon the subject. •
.Me. J. P. °RANT thought the sulject one of great imputtance.
He could not take upon himself to say what •would be the
situation of Joint Stock Companies under the operatioS of the
mamma law, cam if the fith ef Heorge I. wern repealed. The (louse
ter a ought. render the k w upon tire subject noire clear, or a ter if
it mought proper; but he hoped it would consider we before
it repatiNt an Act, containing, among other matt two
charters. Under those circumstances, he ',mold reeommind the
Hon. Menthe (Mr. Moore) to consent to withdraw his motion.
31r. PEEL said there were a number of classes in trie Act
sought to be repealed which bore no rekrence to the siabject in
sues:ton co the object intended to be effee.'.ed by the MerSiber for

_ ~ _,

Mr. 'Secretary andin a low tone of voice
said, that a Right Hon. Friend of his gave notice that lie would
move the adjournment of the House on to-aura. It hid, bow.
ever, since been intimated to him that it would be for the conveni-
ence of public business that it should sit on Thursday ; it would
therefore sit on that day prd Arta ; and he now moved that on
Thursday the House do adjourn to that day fortnight.—Motion
i agreed to.
COMBINATION LAWS.
r Mr. lIUSICISSON rose to move for the appointment of a Select
Committee to consider the effect of the repeal of the Combination
; Laws. It was rotorious that since their repeal several artirans
acted in a most illegal manner. To these acts of insubordination
he would call the attention of the House. They had abused the
I concessions made to them. They hid, he was sure, acted in via.
• lation of the spirit of that la* introduced for their relief. (Hear,
hear.) 15'hen the Hon. Member for Aberdeen (Hr. Hume), early
in last Session, moved for a Committee en the Combination Laws,
he did not oppose its appointment. He eenceired them a fair sub.
cct for inquiry. The laws as they stood on the Statute
Book were intricate, perplexed, and difficult to be understood ;
be looked on them therefore as deeerving of revision and
amendment; although they Bewared to be equal and indifferent be.
tween master and rervant, and although in theory they were so, yet
in their practical operation they were far otherwise. (Hear, hear.)
He conceived them also as calculated to IDw dissensions and keep
alive little bickerings and heert-burnings. They were more likely,
he thought, to aggravate differences than to hal them. The Coot.
mince that saton the questiou was very numerous; it sate for a long
time. The result was, they laid rte papers before the public on
which the public anti parties may Num a judgment', but contented
themselves with submitting certain resehations so the House. He
regretted much that pphlis business and.hiotsteay ireocreSom pre.
mimed him frdm attending the Committee. For the same reasons
he wee unable to pay sufficing attention to the Bill when before the
House. The Bill indeed was hot naked in theway its linpofraike
required. Fur his owe part he lett it entirely to those whom he
thought more likely to be ber.eacquainted with the matter, and
more cognisant of what hail been the general practice under the
then existing laws. The Bill founded on the Resolutions of the
Commitee went not only to repeal all former positive enactments,
but provided Mat no conviction should take place melee the corn.
mon law. The Honourable Member for Aberdeen, in his speech
on the introduction of the Bill, declared not only what punishment
the common law inflicted for that offence which the Combination
Laws were intended to meet, tut quoted a high authority certainly,
that of the Hor.ourable Member for Peterborough (AIL Scarlett),
that the common law In itself was sufficient to put down every eet
of combination. He (Mr. Huskisson) did not then know that the
common law was so efficient's ; and he looked on some statutable
enactment as requisite for the purpose. Mere new Bill then intro-
duced, which repealed over thirty or forty Acts, hesidea the com-
mon law, was brought in late an the Session, was read a second
time on the Ist of June, and on Saturday the Sth it was read a third
dime and passed. Thus there intervened but four days between the
second reading anti the passing of so important a measure. No
blame could be attached to the Honourable Member, when he'
found no opposition to his Bill, for hurrying it a fast as pos-
sible through its several stages. He would now advert
to the outrageous proceedings of the workmen, and particularly
to those that occurred within a late period. So far had the
system gone that the attention of the Home Secretary bad
been repeatedly called to the scenes of violence and outrage,
so violent and outrageous as to threaten the subversion of all law and
security of life and person. lie (31r. fluskitson) had access to
many papers connected with the subject, and he was bound to
declare that from them it appeared that the acts of violence were
every day becoming more frequent, and showed a tendency on the
part of the workmen to persevere in their uajustitiable conduct,
and to take under their formidable control the property of
their masters. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") Their conduct went to a
formidable length ; it was likely soon to produce much mis.
chief. and much gross outrage—it was likely so far to endanger
the public peace of the country as semi to make it a sub-
ject more fit for the interference of the Secretary of the Home
Department than of the President of the Board of Trade. Indeed
the question would soon be of such magnitude as to make it
necessary to adopt some measure to protect the property of the
King's subjects, to prevent the formation of conspiracies, which
weaken the security of property; and threaten the loss of eurnali
life. On looking, however. nernaly into the subject, he thought.
it rather a commercial question. including in it the eights of inter-
ference in the property of those who employed labourers. He felt
too, that if he did not now interfere the evil yak' grow to a mag-
nitude requiring a far different interference. If the influence which
these persons wielded went on inereasing, thellomsSecretary should
of necessity use those powers pplaced in his hands as guerdiati of
411* pobliepeammer noely to mie Ow Mesa to elitlik" tits
dangerous growth of that most dengennis system of conspiracy,
amid remove the restriction on property. (liar, hear.) Let Min
not, in the remarks he had made, be suspected of entertaining
opinions hostile to the freedom of trade. He always maintained
the eight every tradeeman had of disposing of his labour and skill.
lie always thought he was entitled to carry them wherever he
pleased. He-ever maintained that the lab am and skill of the poor
man were his undoubted mete. (Hear.) They were his corn.
modity ; he was entitled to caner them to the best niruket. where
there was the greatest competition. (Hear, hear.) He could not,
however, forget that these who employed the labourer were worthy
of some consmduaeion. They too were entitles to the advantage,
of competition.. Theirs was the capital employed—theirs was
the property—theirs the machinery—theirs the enterprise; and
that machinery—that property--that capital. he considered equally
entitled to the protection of the law as the hbour of the poor man.
If the House could not restrain the labourer, they still ineeit to
take the best mane of preventing him fronts becoming the victim
of the conspiracy that is now going forward. The Sight lion.
(lent. said he would pot enter into particulars: maim individuals
had been murdered by the conspirators ; many live* hid been lost,
of which the public had no knowledge ; they had a Means ana-
-1 ceetairring it from the secrecy of the eysteni, and the peculiar
manner of their death. He could, however, show the House what
' the views and pretensions of these 'showers were, as to the right of
interference with the property of their employees; mid he would
show the mimes of their association from the articles of the Union of
Trades st Dumbeirton, Lanark, and Ayrshire; from them the House
would see what was die system of which he complained—a system,
indeed, so perfect in all its parts, as to rival the constitutions of
the new Governments that were springing up in the different parts
of the world ; they, too, as well as the new States, had their Ilea.-
surert—their Praidente—their Seeretariet, and other officers. (A
laugh.) From the 9th article of the .!yrehire Co-operative Society,
it appeared that at a geatral.nleiting of the Union, all the den.
gates from the trades he present. It was worthy of remark that
this Union did not consist of delegates from the same trail.: nloae ;
the fact was, the different trades all sent delegates, who formed a

etfroamyfwtshiedi'ipirolyeatreesehe
purstziditieistjuipsieertexedeeptitsioownnordellhe;
paid from the general fund. It
gstorraciatescifteificrilpLirdadli,,ecT,ini congress
TiplasiettrellthwhanonitcltheeofyhwthecauSnottioetydi,cow:et:in:con ,
was provided, too, that the trusurer anti president be elected every
th,,.
csoixmon7itteeths'all
reguhitions ; Ist, that all tradesmen point out to the general
g di
that they gavc the master warning of the danger he incurs- ;
and thirdly, that ,they adopt every means which rittieneest: ;
gems of putting him out of the trade. (Hear, Inca- ) It 2--
not that they pursued that course painted was
net by jusuee •
Bfermratimelle Mimed to the property of the. employer ; the;
cared not how far tßefdnjtircel hint ; and it struck him (Mr. Hum
kisson) that the meaning of " what prudence nay suggest," was,
a that Mettlence was to guide them in keeping out of the ren•MtiOn Of
the law, wid:ont any regard to the justifiableness of their proceed.
hags. Could any man soy that timm persons were eming lawndly
wtto thus kept any portion of his Majesty's subjects in terra of
their live, and property ? (11eat.) To pro need with their regnlai ions;
the 13th showed moat fully the influence exercised by the, Cont.'
mitten over the tradesmen. It provided that delegates fmni the so.
meal trades should attend the general meeting, and the sewed part
ett,A eMiele declared that " the power of levying money was vested
exemslvely in due Cier.er.: (7 c, rnt::::e, and that. all lams =Me.! by
the delegates be binding on those whom they represented." (Hest,
hear.) -What a formidable authority this law placed in the hoods
of the Committee ! It was nut that they should receive voluntary
contribution. but be empowered to enforce the payment of ma' ey ;
to h levy," contribution.,
that was the word used. (Hear. hear.) Indeed be
had heard it said that one of the regulations of the colliers was
that no stock of coals be allowed to remain in the hands of their
employee; lest he, by having a supply by him, should become in-
dependent cf them, and look to another quarter for men. (Hear,
hea-.) In other articles regulations were contained with nseect, to
strangers coming to work at a colliery : no man was allowed to enter
into any employment unless he be a member of the Union ; anti
before lie as, allowed to work he was amerced in the sum of live
pounds, which was paid over to the general fund. They regulated
the wages which every man was to receive, acd were so minute as
to determine that the tend of a collier when ten years of see
was to be nod as the one-fourth of a man (A laugh), and
to be paid lenpence a day, and thimon pain of certain penalties;
the master too was net at liberty to employ soy man tartlets he had
keen previously adopted by the Committee. He (Me Hcak:mon)
asked the House if such a system ought to be allowed to continue,
particularly in that artificial state of society which now existed ?
Was it to be tolerated that these men should first by their own con.
duct deprive themselves of employment, and then threw themselves
on the Poor Laws few supple. 1 Was it to be permitted that they,
when distressed by their contributions to chat common fund.
should become a burden to that property already taxed by them ?
He could of course have no right to question the disposal of their
earnings, but tie could not help feeling that if they lodged their
fire pounds in a Savings Bank It would prove more beneficial to
them titan bestowing it out treasurers, presidents, or secretaries.
{Cho can these treamters and presidents be, but men ambitious
of power and influence? Was it not then probable that in the
struggle for pre.eminence the most persevering were the most likely
to succeed ? Could any moo then contemplate such power in
such heads, and not tremble for the consequences ? (Hear, hear.)
Anther law of the Society was, that in the event of a disetimion
arising on any subiect, the majority of those present were to bind
the sitinority. There was nothing very extraordinery in this ; it
waa, he-believed, the mile of every debuting society that Moe ex-
isted. (A laugh.) So far it was quite fair; but was it coo:fluent
with the freedom of labour? (Cnes, of " Hair, hear.") Was it
to be borne that those who employ are to be bound by their lateen..
en ? Another article, the 27th. declared that no man is at liberty
to employ whom he pleases, unlearn he have the permirden of the
Union. If such principles as these emend generally through
all the trades—through the ship-carpenters, colliers, and miter
classes of workman--to what a frightful ahem of power mum
theseFlocieties be raised 1 How hurtful, how pernicious must be
their influence that that amborit) does exist in a very im-
portant branch of commerce, he meant the coasting trade,
appeared from the forenati n of a society among them,
celled the " Nautical Union ;0 and from some of its lava,
which though drawn up umler the form of a conversation, were
not less binding on them than if they were in the shape of
positive ceminands. One article of that Soeiety„ aid indeed it
seemed to persuade all the confederacies that those individuals
set over them should be selected by themselves ; en far' was that
acted on, that he knew a colliery in which a great deal of discontent
and disunion prevailed between the labourers and employer, not on
account of their wages or frees any ill treatment received by them,
but simply because they were not allowed to appetite the
overlook= of their labour. (Hear, hear.) It was also a law
with the members of the Coasting Union not to go tome unless the
appointment of their own officers was permitted to them ; they
claimed to nominate their captains and mates. Such was the law
framed by their Committee, and promulgated in the guise of a
dialogue between Tom and Harry ! Arrsgreement was aho entered
into by them not to do certain things, howsoever necessary they
may he for the preservation of the ship. (Hear. hear.) An instance
lately eccurrel in which the sailers adhered to the' law. A vessel
happened to be cast ashore. in order to get her off, it became
necessary to shift her ballast : one ~f the rules of the Society declar-
ing such work unfit for seamen, they absolutely refused to assist,
to the imminent risk of the ship and cargo (hese, hear); and
it was only by the fortunate aid of some smacks the Ceptain was
enabled to preserve one or the oilier ; yet the seamen. the moment
the ballast was shifted, cheerfully perforated every other work.
What was the consequence ? Why these attack. scueht foe corn.
pensstion for their labour 110141 (rouble, and actually obtained 2004
salrage from the owners, for reihedying a udafot tune solely owing
to the intubeediaanen and bad spirit of the crew. It follows,
eonemmently, that, those who go to sea eittrested with the manage-
ment of yalushle cargoes, cannot, if they are a: the mercy of such
- Insubordination and combination of the crews, preserve that pro-
perty for their employers, or feel their own lives sere; and that if
' this Bill ie sufhered umeontipue in its preterit teamratinee ruernieflota
toast relinquish all idea of en.barking their capitals at sea, and
thereby put an end to all commercial enterprise. He was not indeed
surpris.W, from the wording of an Act so artifkinl in its phrases
and so liable to misconstruction, that the class of persons for whom
it was designed, and who were not the best calculated from their
habits and education to construe an Act of Parliament correctly_
he did not, he repeated, at all wonder that they should have an
impression that by this Act all restraint was taken away from their
most violent and outrageous conduct. All the Arts upon the sub-
bet of combination had been repealed, end no preeecding could '
taken at common law against those offerces, which had been
formerly punishable under its operation. Ile would call the atten-
tion of the House to the 2.1 Section of the Act as it now stood,
that they might see how easily persons not able to eoestrue Acts of
Parliament may he min-led by the pi...eel:ikons of the present Com.
broaden law. The motion runs dins-a" That no workmen eon.
suiting together for future proceedings, or ambit-leg to regulate
the mode of carrying on or managing any trade or manufacture,
shall be liable to indictment or information for such proceedings
either under the Common Law or the Statute Low." {{could not
some persons suppose that there was actually something commend.
able in the combining to regulate the proceeding:a of their masters
and trades in the weeding of such • cisme as that 1 Was it not to
be suPposed they might do it with impunity ? What was there in
it, at all events, which could teach those for whom it was intended
that by combiniug to disturb or control the proceedings of their
employers, they either violated the spirit or thwerted the Intent of
the Act of Parliament? And was it not time that the House
should, after the scenes which had lately taken place, adopt some
measures to set them right upon so serious a subject. Again, by •
the 6th sectimi of the present Act, offences of the moat agmanted
nature were not visited by punishment, or at all emus by a punish.
matt very imieeguate to the natuteof the crime. By that section
it was provided, that if any person should by vioience destroy any
machinory, tools, goods, or merchandise, &c. on being convicted
before two .Magistrates (hear, hear), by the oaths of two witnesses
(bear, hear, hear), he elimild be sentenced to two months imprison.
meat. (Bear, bear.) All these offences were punishable before;
the Act therefore enacted nothing new—it proposed nothing pew—
it was a work of supererogation to say Met these violeoces were an
offence to be punished ? But how did it award thumunieliment ?
Why, not by establishing a degree of penalty, i riming with the
nature of the crime. but by declaring that all these ofreneee_wene
of then ielonies, all of. them midemeancm--should be only
punishable by two months' imprisonment, on the proof of two
witnesses (hear, hear). a thing never required but in eases of high I
treason, and then only provided as an emceed goard to the life of
mit
the ten (Hear, hear.) Taking this law into einsidenrion
with time 2d section, which declares that it is no crime to concert or
plot the destruction of property or violence to the life of those
• opposed to combinations, he conceived that there was no remedy
for an, sail, whieh ill the inemsfacettring and trading districts
was calculated to destroy the property of masters and em-
ploytre ; and he thought it iiupoesible that even these who I
were interested. in combinations could, if they permitted them.
selves the slightest refection, hope for the eontieusetee of a system
which enabled them with impunity to exercise such a tyranny over
1 their masters. (Hear.) If those workmen 'veld but allow them-
selves to coretder that through the effect of such measures ail em.
ployment must ultimately cease altogether, •and capital be either
driven to other pasts of this mant, or, what was worse, to other
couunies, lie was sure they would not desire the continuance of
such an unwarrantable power. (Hear, hear.) He could only say
to those mind:men who might be threatened by Etch proceedings.
that he would advise them not to yield timely to the assumption of
such a power. He would implore them to act with firmness and
vigour whenever they might be threatened r, be was Pure the ma.
gistracy of the country would give them efficient support ; and if
the power of the magistracy proved ineffectual, he thought he could
pledge himself that his Right lion. Friend the Secretary of State
esould not be backward to give them the full weight of his consti.
tutional authority (Hear, bear), and protect them from the coax.
quenelle of a system so inimical to the peace, and so prejudicial to
the prosperity of the country: (Hear, hear.) To what extent it '
would be expedient to go in the intended alteration, he was not
then prepared to determine. He could rot say whether he would
.propene to alter or repeal altogether the existing law ; bat this he I
might say, that he should be sorry to see the tomer laws rewired.
(Hear.) Whatever might be ultimately done, he was convinced
that some more efficient measure [satin be prodneed from the exa-
mination of a,Committee, and ho trusted by their labours to pre.
vent the present principle from extemi;ng itself, and at the hunt
timeeo give equal and impartial prat, etion to labours and memer.
(him, hear.) He confessed that he ifild at One time an expects.
non that the manufamwring population would have put a just in.
terpreution upon the intention of the Legislature; he had hoped
that their own good sense would have taught them to avoid any in-
terruptions to else public tranquillity; but them helms had been
painfully diaappointed, and he felt it absolutely necessary to tali
for the interference of the House. by moving the appointment of a
Commtittre. lie was aware that he exposed himmilf by tide pro.