The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-22 00:00:00

COMIUNATUkN LAWS.

Mr. lIUME p►esented nine petitions against the Combit.mion
Laws, from various bodies of trades:nen of Westminster, South-
work, &e.

I*lielionourable Member brought up the report of the Arti.
sans' Committee. Three points were entiusted to them to report
upon :—pat, The l'imibination laws; 2tl. of
Artisans; and, 3d, The Exportation of Machinery. 'the resolu-
tions of the Committee, recommended the repeat of the Combina-
tion Laws, and of the law as agened the emigration of artisans.
They reserved an opinion on the exportation of machinery, and
recommended that this branch of the subject In deterred until
next Session of Parliament. lle gave notice, that on Monday
next he would bring in three 11111...—the tir,t, to repeal the Combi.
nation Laws; the second, to alter the law of Artisans; and the
third, to improve the Arbitration Law., as related to the wages of
, apprentices and servants.
I Mr. AV. Sll ITII presented a petition from the licensed victual-
lers of Nora ich against the lkir Bill.
Mr. ROBERTS presented a petition from the licensed vie-
, tualers of Aylesbury to the same Meet.
Mr. Mt )NCR presented a petition in favour of the Beer Bill,
from an individual of the borough of Reading, the proprietor of a
house called •• The Itrinumia."This was it petition which lite-
rally pr.wented to the !louse that just pi.stion awn ulfrtam
parting ; and therefore, he should mute that the petition be
brought up. The lion. Alember presented a second petition to
the same edict from another individual. The Bon. 31ember alsa
presented a petition tom the landowners and fanners of the
pity of Reading, in favour otihe Beer Bill.
The petitions were brought up, read, mid ordered to be laid on
the table.

3lr. F. PA L:111:1( presented two petitions in favour of the retail
breweries, 61001 by more than two hundred tratlestuenof Hauling,
and the second front Newbury, in favour of the same IlilL

MESSAGE FR93I THE LORDs.

A message from the Lord% announced that their Lordships
had agreed to the Ilrighteitustune !toad, and several other private
Hulk, and also to the silk Bill.
Mr. ELLIS gave notice that on Thursday next he would
submit a motion to the House relative to the conduct of eue
tenor of the Bermuda.

Mr. LITTIsIiTt/N rose to present to the !louse a petition
from a gentleman whose name had lately been mentioned in that
'louse without any peculiar respect. The petitioner stated, that
in July, 111'20, he Ind been directed by the Lords of the Treasury
to survzy the buildings at Westminster Hall, and he submittal to
the 'Treasury, in I WI, a plan which he conceived to Ise the best and
the most effective for the alterations proposed. Ile was then desired
by the Lords of the Treasury to submit his arrangements to the
Judges of the respective Courts, and he did so • and he found from
the Judges that they approved his plan, and suissamently the plan
that the Judges approved was amtinimed by the Lord, of the l'rea-
sury. The petitioner stated, tl.at, acconlipg to the plan adopted by
the Coromittee,the interior arratgenients of the Courts were altoge-
ther interfered with, and the Well n :tat in nto the judges, the har-
risten, law-students, and solicitors. effectual!). destroyed. I 'iulcr
these circumstances, he trusted that the House would pause before
they sanctioned the proposed alterations. lie should move that the
petition be read.
Mr. SCA it LETT conceived, that wherever the blame rested, it
was at least tolerable certain that very little taste had beet) exhi-
bited in that whids had hitherto been done. (I fear, hear.) With
,respect to the accommodation, he could suggest a mode which
would at once relieve the Committee from the necessity of deprie.
ing the Judges, banisters, and students of the advantages they
' now enjoyed. The Duchy Court of Lancaster was seldom used,
and that Court, with a very slight alteration, would Inca the neces-
sities of the Judges; a room could be there formal, lit 'l,r their re-
ception. The Bail Court might be placed at time other side of the
hall, where it originally stood, and thus all the anticipated incon-
veniences would at once be removed.

The petition was then read.
Mr. lIANKES conceived, that the objections stated by the pe-
titioner were such as might with rare propriety lus.-e berm
urged before the Committee; and, had they been urged before
that Committee, he ventured to assrvt, they would have received
an answer with which would it he nut excusable in him then to in_
diet on the House. ((dear, hear.)
Mr. LITTLETON urged the responsibility of the Treasury,
and the unfairness (1 removing the responsibility to an individual.
Nit JOSEPH YORKE agreed with the Ilonnunthle Gentle-
man who had last addressed the House, that the work was dune to
order (a laugh), and the fault was attributable, not to the executers,
but to the suggestera. (Hear.)
The CHANCELIAM of the EXCIINI 7E II said, that he did
on a former occasion state distinctly how far the Treasury were re-
sponsible in having approved of the plan. M. Soatie had un.
doubted!? proposed this plan, and it had been adopted by the
Treasury ; and therefore it was quite dear that the Treasury, hav-
ing sanctioned his alterations, were responsible.
Mr. DEN3IAN ohs reed, that he a . extremely gratified in
hearing what had fallen from the Hight lion. Cantle:llan; fir
whether or not the blame was justly tett-Om:id to 3lr. Soule, re-
mained no longer a matter of rontniversy. The Right 1r; in. lira.
deman bad, with his habitual candour and ni—dintss. declared
that the error was attributable to the Treiniory alone. While, how.
ever, upon this subject, he conceived that Ileum :hi not to omit the
necessity of acerminiodating the exalted persons who presided over
the Courts at 'Siestminater.hall ; anti beauty of architecture, how-
ever highly attractive, should not interfere with that most desirable
object. 'flies', conflicting opinions, however, as far an intertill ar-
rangements were concerned, all died before the exterior of the
building. It was utterly imposcible to cater tin ditle:ctit opinions
on its exterior aspect. He might, tun, be permitted to ~,y, that it,.
conceived this very circumstance to he a i.u,st inampirj,m, omen,
as it regarded the prepowed improvements at Winds,a. Castle:
3011,1100/. were to he expended in thse improve,aents, and his ap.
pr.dictudon Ik4S, that the present beau iful a!pearance of the Castle
rota rlraittAlly be of yet by these alterations. Then, as in
' the present instance. would come 1 prorsdtion of a levelling cha.
racier, and the whole building must sitar from the novel, and
inetlern, and inappropriate ailili.to •.

Sir 1.. Illeg th t the al!era:itiii, made were most
tlisgryeAtil to the hat: 1.1 the nitm ry.
31r. BRIGHT trios ed thst whatever alterations were intentltd
would be ow: tared with as little d.•ht'
Sir H. t:t)1,1;1 N disapproved of the idsti ittl.,ptt,l by the
~,,, it tee.

The petition, after a fro words (roll .1. Ytitnir,
BAN 1,441.1. Russo:Lt.. nail 'dlr. Itt.NETT, of Vi.iltalure,
wan (micro' to lie on the Sallie, mid be print -d.
Sir 1.. 6N.1.11•11it!'1.1, prownted a petition front Ilt.• nwnert
and occupiers of land n. ar l'a terlintre ard petition frthli
the ownera and occupier% of land is the vicinity of li..ver, s; tiva
the Bonded 'Wheat 11,11.

S{'.ll{ LETT brought up a Ihll to exteld ill^ jurisdiction
of the County tqua et the county p.,l.,tine of L•st! rest, r, w 1.1. 'c
was rsad a first tins..., and ordered to be read on Monday neKt a
aecond • .

Mr. BEN ETT prmented a rf tition from the owners told ocen.
pits id told in salt.hury, against the Beer
Sir E. 111 'lt Ill.:TT mew:mil a p..titi-ri front an individual.
named Itob..rt Jame% Quirgley, eantaieiog
cruelty and oppression ; and it was, in his mind, hot a no. inn. :mil
a toto pitiable c.indition of the state ut the country , f which the pc-
tititnier was a native. The petitioner was an othecr in the .nra) in
1793. and hr now resitbil in England. Ile com;tl tilted of Ole wr-
grt.,.ions made upon his prop ..ty, and the intliet.tins 11..r•otially
watered by himself' from the cruel tyranny ut the I )r.,ug..! Fatly
Irelan4l.—The petition wan ordered to be prig:: d.
it F. M 'lt I lETI' preaented a petition from certain lirewied
victuallers and publiCAlll6 or Ilrentford, against the Beer Bill—Or-
dered to lie on the table.
Mr. It I'M tit preliented a alMilar petition from the inde-
pendent publican% and lieenred victuallers of Great 1.-unto:till.
trdered to lie on the table.
Eit.lltA.

Mr. 11'11.310T 111 DITON Irid ou the table curtain payee re-
lative to the bland of Demerara.
IOOL.

Upon the tnotion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCH
(21. ER, that the floa.e go into a Cone:tithe upon tite Order of

the Day Ai. conrideriag the Bit respecting the import sad capon I
duties on Wool,
Mr.I:I'RTEIS said he would oppose the motion, not merely
from i.e inexpediency, but because it was decidedly. injurious
to the agricultural interests : it was one of the fruits of the
new t.hilir,ophy which we% prerched in the Ilouse—it was one of
the conmenurnees of free trade, that idol be'orc which they were
called upon to fall down and worship.
The s AK ER said, it way impossible to gratify the wishes of
the lion. Member. The motion was for the reading of the Order
of the Ibty, as a ;natter of course it must be read.
Upon the (hder of the Day for the Speaker's leaving the flair
being read—
Mr. I'I'IITEIS said, I move es en amendment, that you leave
the 'hair this ilay ci. mtwiths.--I !mild laughs g )
The SP 1: AI: fr. It said, the lion. Member should pardon lints,
hut this mode of proceeding would, in his opinion, be wora: than
, the other.

........
Mr. tt:RTEIS having then moved the postponement of the

sir IS. li TClllll'ltl, asked if it would be more convenient
to enter into the details of the question upon the t ommittee. It
would, he thought, be better to wait for the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's plan upon the subject.
-ic J. N Eft' said, it was supposed the measure, if' carried
into effect, would be injurious to Ireland. This lie denied. lie was
convinced it' one measure could be more beneficial than another, it
would by the measure before the House. Ile therefore stemt heartily
deprecattd all opposition to it.
Mr. S. %VI/UTLEY said, the objection to the exportation of
wool wa., that it was hurtful to the agricultural interest. If this
was the 10%p:et it had not been attained; it had been asserted upon
a former oetasion that wool would rise; the contrary was the fact
Ile, as .use of the Members for York, was well acquainted with the
nature of the woollen trade, and how it affected agriculture. lie
was w,l! aware of the connexion ' •tween the two branches, and
how the prosperity of one was affected by that of the other.
When lie oppre.ed the exportation of wool he was told he was ltd
astrly by his partiality for mallinery and apinoing-jennies. Ile
had constituents of different descriptiots, and it wail his duly to
look at the interests of all. lie conceived the interest of all was the
interest of the farmer; in fact, the inteoms of all his constituents
were wound up to ether. 1 hese interests would, in his opinion, be
:rially affected by the exportation of wool from this country.,
• and he was therefore opposed to it ; and though he stood alone, it
the toiletry were to depart from that system of policy upon which
It had acted tor a century. he would protest against it, and if he did
not defeat it, it would he owing merely to his want of power; it was
irons a sense of the inutility of the effort that he declined taking the
sense of the 'louse.

Mr. Alderman THOM PSON said, the Hon. Member for York-
shire should not stand shine in his opposition to the measure, as he
would support hint. The wool trade Mil on the decline; it had
never biro lists proveroua than during the hot year.
Mr. REN T wit attire) said, there was no trade in the West
of England mote prosperous than the woollen too le until last year.
Die falling off was occasioned by the discussions on the Nuf.tect,
and the alteration in the duties ; a stagnation ln the trade
was the consequence. The trade was now, however, recovering ;
the profits were rt'rhaps not great, but many hands were employed.
The workmen were busy, and of course they were peaceable; it
was when that class was out of employment it became riotous ; it
was his deckled opinion that if the duties were laid on they should
be equalized, and there should be no difference between the export
and nom. t duties. It' the Chancellor of the Exchequer were to
persevere let hint act fairly, and if the export tax be twopence let
the Import tax be the same.
Mr. T. W N would say a few words on the saject. The
trade, in his opinion, would fall completely into the hands of
foreigners. He admitted that whilst the duty was even as low as'
four-pence per lb. it operated as a mill-stone round the neck of the
foreigner; if the proanit plan were acted upon the trade would fall
into the hands of the foreigner. Ile would call upon the President
of the Board of Trade w deny this. We should not therefore give
away a commerce most beneficial to the country, nor should we
xdo.it the foreigner to the same market with ourselves, He agreed
perfectly with the lion. Member for Yorkshire as to the export. It
appeared to hint that every pound of long wool that left this counts,
would be mixed up with two or !Mee pounds of short of fore 4n
growth. Ile thought with the Hon. Member there would be no
advantage in dividing the House.
.Mr. St II ER was of opinion the discussion should be postponed
until the I omntitt e ; I/code:m:li should wait fur the suggestions of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it neces-
sary, after the discossion that took place, to make a few observa-
tions. He would direct himself principally to the remarks which
fell front the Aluver mil Seconder. He deemed it perfectly unne-
cessary for him to ref: rto the principle of the measure. That prin-
ciple was, whether the ditties were to be reduced, or the expor-
tation were to be uiluwed at all. This principle had been laid
down by himself early in the month February ;it had also been
repeittcd by his lion. Friend. who hail moved resoutions grounded
upon that principle. The principle of the 11211 was therefore de-
cided ; it was tint necessary for lion to justify it at prment, and
with respect to the opposition given t. it by those who cor.c iced
their particular interests were concerned, this was nut a proper
or place for the discus.inn. The details should be tlfan.sseat
before the Committee. a:td then lie would enter the field with any ,
Hon. Menthe; in its defence. If, in the course of the discussion,
any points of detail could be shewn, he would of course attend
to them, and he would, for his part, be happy to give every ex-1
planation in his power.
Lord Al I ~TII.V regretted that it should be the opinion of his
Ilimouraole Friend and Colleague, that this measure was fraught
with ruin to the country. Ile saw the matter in a different point of ,
view. and from all the inquiries he could make upon the su:uect, he
was of opinion that nothing could be adopted laving a greater ten.
dewy to the general good; and in this benefit the agricultural in-
terest would find itself included. If the object hitherto was the
exclusion of foreign wool, the object was not attained. In his opi-
nion, the importation of foreign wool to this country was highly de-
sirable. It would be our advantage that all the wools of foreign
countries aboold be mixed up in this country. There were many
descriptions of this article that could not be made up by themselves.
Ile approved highly of the principle of the Bill ; Ira did nut meddle'
with its details. It was a matter of perfect indifference to hint'
whether die duty on the wool exported was one or two pence; his 1
°hive; was. that those more immediately concerned should be grati.
hid on tie. subject. Irvin the state of the manufactures abroad,
he thought it utterly tutnussible for the foreigner to compete
with us in the home market. He was conli,lent the nt %sure would
doe oenelicial Cait to the landed and commercial interest. He con.
curreil in th.• principle of the Right lion. Reutleman; be thought
it a sound one ; he trusted he would pay no 'neon un to the cross-
fire directed against hint. lle would remind him of the reflection
made by Benjamin Franklin upon the feelings excite' by his plans
nfa Al !Will in America. It appeared to the Democrats to be too
fsvouruhle to the !loyalists, and the favourers of Royalty thought
it savomed too much of Demo:racy ; and from the dislike of both
;emirs the philosopher inferred that the plan was in all prebabi.
lity a good mane, Ile trusted the Right Lin. tlem:eman would
mime 1 similar line of argument—that he would take no notice of
the crosa-hire to which he was exptaAl, but would persevere, and
hate that tuerit of carrying into effect a IIIeaSUIV conferring the
highest beat:tit upon the country.
Sr I:. sII I FFSE It said a few words in favour of the motion.
Air. ('lt !PI'S was of opinion the discussion should be rescriel
for the Committee. .

......
Mr. HART DAVIS said, that if the clip irtat:on were anowed,
the Gentian niantil.tetures would wioii riva ours.
After a few olp.ervaiitill from Mr. Cl 'ItTI ES in explanation,
The SPEAKER left the Chair, aid the !louse resolved nail(
into a Coininint..

CIIANI:f.I.IAt. of the EXCHEIskER said, that it was
not his intention to discuss the various topics in the Hill at that 1.10.
went, because he thought the more simple method would be to pro.
teed with the discussion, as the various points arose in the course
of the debate. lie would call the litlellt!:111 of the Committee to
the filling up of the first blank. The first clause did nothing but
repeal all the existing duties on wool. i.eT duties to be inmosed
would be found in the schedule. That clause then went [MI% fir—
, whether it were advisable to make any alteration in the duties on
wool ; and he would now canline himself' to this point, i. e. if the
' duties on wool imported into this country ought or ought not to be
restored ; and he would observe. that he had always understood the
wool trade in this country to be in a very flourishing condition, and
, that the wool-growers had never been of the pass r CIa•ACS, lie
thought that the Hon.fdentleman (Mr. ('urteis) hail failed to prove
that the duties ought not to be reduced, because of their lung con-'
tinuance on the sant, pricciple, he might argue a4.iinst the re-
, duction of any duty which was no; of recent date. lie (the Chan-
' cellar of the Eschequenthought that in supporting the present men.
sore, the N house was only ralerisainga pledge which had been formerly
given, and he trusted he itimuld have the voice of the Mose to
serve the interest% of the manufaeurer on the one hand, and of the
woisl.grower on the other, because it was evident that if the manu-
facturer were relieved from the evil camplained of, he would mix
up the foreirn with the English wool, and thus serve the grower.
Now. as to the nude alining up the b ink, ,te the 11,4 of
the ExcheTter) would otmerve„ that it was n sitS4Ulat (IMO: that
the two dates he had proposed to fill up the blank haepened to be
theve ry two which the wed merchant-sof t. .tout Ito looked
upon to be the MINIM of the : sell trade, had far: aer:y pointed out
to hint. Ile knew that when an altsrratton had b.en male relative
to the silk trade, a new light burst on those gentlemen, and they
then changed their minds on the subject: who n the tn.:norm:toren
eitil.rstooll that an ::,,,beation had keen inaele uy the -.wen, they
also, cone hirward with their clatis,ll. I t this pronetplt were 1:1:C011.
raged, there would be n.i tad to tier CI p. and consequently tb,.
loss to the c ttttt try. Ile homal he had said enough to show that
there was nothing unfair in his proceedi•-g. It W.la not until the
alteration relative to the silk trade had been made. that anyhing
was heard of respecting ruin to therm coenected with the trade in
wool. Ile should thy-04re !impose that the first blank b.: filled up
with the I oiti of Sep.:tuber
31r.111(itilIT said, that mare of Ilia constituents in the w, u.
trade in Bristol would ,4,lfer re:tern:lly. in consequence of the
:lodes they Itad hair:meek if the I 'llaticellor of the Exchequer did
not allow them a drawback. From the nature of their trade, it was
necessary for them at all lions to have considerable quantities of
wool in nand, she duties of shirts had been paid, and all that he
contended for was, that on this wad a drawback should be allowed.
Ile trusted it was not too lair for the I 'hancellor of the 11:%chequer
to Iraw a bite of distirereett between the tnercint, consumer, and
iniportti. With respect to the titre allowed, he hoped it emu'd
by as 14,11:: la possible.
Mr. lIA HT DAVIS thought that a gross partiality had been
shown to the silk trade. Nothing but the greatest necessity eoul,t
w.:rrant the saying m tune class of ',reams. ss Take all you ask for,
-
and to address the Other in 1.010:1;40 ...I %sir', tint', rent.
3lr. lIEN ETV said, that it merchants were allowed a draw.
hack, the shopkeeper and ittantifactur.x would have an equal chitin
to the ini..4h!,itee, Ile trii,t.:ti it world lint he given to one ui:les.

it were
Agrov.l to.