The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-16 00:00:00

The petition was then brought up. when •
Mr. PEARCE mink some ohservatiope which were quite M-
andible.
Mr. ORENFELL said it wan a ease between the Bank and the
politic creditor. ''fie thought the conduct of the Bank highly-ob-
jectionable; permission had been given to a friend of the Pre'
woman, while it was denied to her professiocial agent, tin the
ground that the Bank had not been absolved from the respersi-
Why of the tranaaetinn. He could not think each a refusal credit-
able upon such ground ; nor could he think the Bank authorised
in opposing the application. The subject was of great itopertnate.—
the ppblic debt was in question, and every Milder of public securi-
ties Was listen:media its decision. The system was a bad one, and
' he hoped the House would put a stop to it
Mr. AB-MCKIM BY was anxious to know what would be
said in reply on the pert 0( the Bank. An Honourable Member
(we believe .Mr. Pearce) had said that the Bank would nut give
ex pane information. In this case the only perion interested was
the person who had made the application, and therefore there could
arise no injury from complying with it t and. is that view he etivid
not understand the meaning of an ex parte statement es applied its
in the present instance. A bill of discovery' might trove forted a
compliance; but perhaps by ex parse ieformighin the Bank meant
to say, we will show you the power of alleyliey—you may to to
law (to recover the amount of your Joss) with any one else, but
you must not go to law with wt. Hewes quite sure that no me
would feel less inclined to act harshly in any inessoce than the
I limourable Member ( Mr. Pearce), and he would recommend the
case of this unfortunite woman, who was now In a workhouse,. to
1
his consideration. He agreed in the opinion of the lion. Member
tor Penryn (Mr.Orenfell), that this was a case Otiailig.taar, _ _see
and one between the Bank and the r nblic creditor. e,—
. Atter a few words from Mr. PEARCE and Mr. 01E4 FILL, the
petition was ordered to lie on the table. . .
EXTENSION OF THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
Mr. •bitliES • presented a petition from the freeholders of
Kinston-moon-Hull, preying that they may be allowed to vote for
the representation of the'county of York. He said it was his in-
tention, if the /petition was favourably received (and be wsw no
reason why it shoald not). to bring forward in the course of the
Session a Bill to carry the prayer of the petition inm effect.
Mr. EI.LICE expressed his gratitude fo the lion. Member for
having brought forward the petition, and felt great pleasure to
learn it was his intenti.m to bring in a Bill to extend the elective
franchise to such places as that from which the petition had been
presented. There watt in the county of 'Warwick a place in a
saddler predicament, the circumstances connected with which had
been several times before the House.

• SCOTCH BANKS.
Sir .G. WARR ENDER preset...,4 petitions from Jedbaegh
and N?rth Barna, against any alteration in the banking systein

of Scotland.

EXPENSES OF COM3IISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTS.
Sir R. • WILSON moved for an account of tavern expenses in-
curred •by Commissioners of Bankrupts, under =omissions exe-
cuted in the country dnring the last three years. Ile said that he
was induced to move fur these accounts because he felt persuaded
that great abuses, prevailed, and he was anxious to eitricate the
public from the immoderate expense which attended a commission
of bankrupt. There should be, In his opinion, some method de-
ri►ed tet deal with the abuses which prevailed.
ThE SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the names of the
Commissioners and Solicitors might be obtained, but there was no
means of ascertaining the information which the Honourable and
Gallant General moved for. He made some other observations

which were not distinctly bean!.
91 . A BERCHOIIni said that he held in his hand **Bill
which contained some information on the subject. It was an ac-
count of the expenses of one commission of bankrupt. in which
there were the following charges for tavern expenses I.—Dinner
IL its. ; dinner 31. as.; dinner 51. ; dinner 51. 2s. ; ditto 4/.115.:
dititier'airain 41. la.; again GI. dinner 111. ; dinner V. ss. 9d.:
ditto Ct. l le.; and dinner again Gl. The entire page was nearly
filled with charges for dinners; the remaining amounting to front
six to seven pounds. The expense of the commission altogether
was 2000/. It had been objected. to the return of those accounts,
that the secretary of commissions of bankrupts would be obliged
to write circular letters ; he could not perceive the great difficulty
of that, and he thought It would be sufficient compensation for arty
inconvenience, to 11-ve before the House correct tertfrds made by
the proper officers. He thought the solicitor should not throw any
obstacles in the way of the returns being made.
Mr. BANK ESirsid that there was a remedy for the abuse, if there
was any, in an Act which was passed last Session, by which no
such expenses were allowed, and the Commissioners of Bankrupts
must perjure themselves if they allowed them. It was quite itn-
,!practicable to make those returns, and be submitted to the House
that a remedy existed (if that was what was sought for) in the Act
of Parliament to Which he had already alluded.
Mr. H 1: ME said that if the law was always carried into effect,
the case would be altered, but the clause in the Act which had
been alluded so was of no service. The Commissioners of Land
Tax had brought an expense upon the country of 224,000!. and
there were charges made In the face of five Acts of Parliament ;
there was a charge of 11101. for a trip to Blackheath and a ball in
London.
Sir. W. CROKER said that there would be the gee-neat diffi.
lenity In procuring those returns. He thought ate ihdter coutse to
pursue would be to state an indi yirlital case, ard then to rail upon
the Commissioners of Bankrupts fdr a return as to that ease only.
The SPEAKER said the House misunderstood its own au-
thority, if it supposed that that which was said by an Hun.
!Member as to the impossibility of obtaining these returns was
founded its fact. The parties might be served with the order of the
House through the medium of the Secretary to Bankrupt Com-
missions ; which order he was bound to see was served, even though
his name was not specifically mentioned in the order.
Sir R. WILSON said, nothing could be more easy than to ob-
tain the information in the manner stated. The Solicitor of
fiankrupui was compelled to keep the papers in Iris own ;testi-
flexion.
Mr. S. BOURNE recommended to the lion. and Gallant Gene-
ral to limit the returns to the last year. Joe his own part he did
not know what use the Hon. and Gallant General could make of
the returns if he had them, liar It appeared that there was a law
already in existence condemning the practice of which he emu.;
plaiued. If there was such a law, he thought the better was would
be to enforce Its provisions, rather than to seek to bring evidence
of the abuses of it before that House.
Air. C. W. WYNN thought the motion of the Hon. and
Gallant General went further in its preheat-shape than he intended.
Ths motion was for a return of the tavern expenses incurred by
the Commissioners of Bankrupts. Surely the Hon. Member dui
not wish for a return of those expenses which they had def•ared
out of their own pockets. The better way would he to direst a
prosecution against the persons guilty of such offences, rather
than call upon them for returns upon which prosecutions might
afterwards be instituted against them, thus making them their awn
ICI. Ll wzrs.
Sir R. WILSON explained. lie meant the tavern expenses
incurred by Commissioners in their capacity of Commissioners.
Ile was willing to confine his motion to the period since the late
Acts came into operation, which was in September last.
Mr. S. WORTLEY said that, according to the words of the
motion, all tavern expenses must be understood whether paid by
themselves or nut of' the bankrupts' estates.
Mr. LOCKHART 'fished to know if by C'ommiasioneis
meant those whose names were in the Lord Chancellor's list, ur
only the occasional Commissioners ?
Sir IL WILSON said he alluded to the country and not to
the London Commissioners.
Mr. CROKEII explained.
111 r. Secretary PEEL said that it would he very satisfactory
to limit the motion (and indeed it would be for the benefit of the
country if all such motions were so limited) to as short a period as
possible, consistent with the object which he had in view.
The motion was then agreed to, with limitation as to time to
September, 1825.
CROWN DEBTORS.

Mr. 111FME moved for a return of the number of Crown
deb.ors confined in the different gaols of the united kiliglom, di-.
tinguishing their names, the periods when imprisoned, and thus,a
taken in execution—Agreed to.
PRIVATE BILL COMMITTEES.

On the motion of 111r.Liffl.ETO'N., the aljounied debate on
the Private Bill Committees was adjourned till Friday next.
NAVY PROMOTIONS.

- - _
Mr. HUME moved for returns of the number of Midshipmen
promoted to the rank of Lieutenants between the Ist of January,
1825, and the let of January, 18'26. distinguishing their a►met
and standing in the service ; the number of Lieutenants promoted
to the rank of Commanders ; the number of Commanders pre.
rooted to the rank of Post-Captains ; the number of Post-Captains
promoted to the rank of Rear-Admirals ; the number of Rear-Ad-
mirals promoted to the rank of Vice-Admirals ; and the nitrnher of
Vice-Admirals promoted to the rank of Admirals, during the sem*
Period ; in all eases distinguishing. their names and their standing
in the service prior to such promotion.—Agreell to.
MARINE PROMOTIONS.
Mr. HUME next moved for similar returns relative to the pre.
motions in the marine service —Agreed to.
ARMY CLOTHING. r

Mr. MIME next moved for a Return of the sums of marry
issued for clothing the army since the yes? 1815.
tienetal OASCOYNE apprehended the Wm. Member /mild
not gain his.object.by the motion which he had 'Omitted to she
House. The year 1816 might be considered olmust es a year. of
war, as far as regarded the military esfablivhment of the country,
which WI% not reduced until the close of that year.
31r. HUMS NMI the year 1817 would answer his purpose just as
well; a:id with this alteration the motion was Mt"
CIVIL CONTINGENCIES.
Mr. HVME moved for a vari.i.y of returr% exPl"a'aTT
of
seversl of the stuns voted In the sliscellsneous Nstitnates ai.4
Civil Contingencies.—Agreed to.
•
WESTMINSTER A nnini.
Mr. OUME gave notice that to•ntnrrew he would move fur a
return of the amount of the sums received by the Dean sad