The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-01-22 00:00:00

Vrtp,ws.

F.nropran), rivarril end) other in rnstaining Iler repainting%
of the Ilrili•h arum •

" The Prince Itvervt has the errateat ',leaguer in trilot:
able to inform you, that the Lade,eon inc. re, and milmuufae-
torea of the country are in a most flourishing conditions.
" The favourable change whi:h lies so rapidly taken plate
in the internal circumstances of the Unittil Kingdom ■ffrrds
the strongest proof of the mobility of its Fes tttt revs.
" To cultivate and improve the advantsees of stir present
situation will be t►e object of your deliberations; and Inv
Royal Righucas has commanded us to aware you of Ida dim.
position to concur and co-operate in whatever may be hest

calculated to sicure to his 3litiestOi subjects the fist! belie-
fits of that state or peace which, by 'the lilitutiug of Provi-
dence, has been su happily re-established 4roughout Eu.

rope."

The Commons then retired, and the House ad-
journed till five o'clock.

The House being again met at fire o'clock, the
General Indemnity Bill was, according to esta-
blished usage, ordered to be read es first time.
The Lords Coninsivisiosiere Speech was then read
by the LOAD CHANCELLOR, and again by the
Clerk at the table ; which being done,
Tue Earl of Waawttif. rose and said, that in
rising to require the concurrence of their Lordships
in the !musts coutitioed in the Prince Regent's
most gracious Speech, he felt no inconsiderable re-
luctance, from a consciousness of his own inability'
to treat on such important subjects in a Suitable
manner; but he was encouraged by the assurance,
that it required no very abbe advocate to secure
their unqualified assent, where every topic, save
those with which the Speech commenced, Was cal-
culated to ekcite feelings of gratification. The fo-
mented induiposition of his Majesty had ever beets
a cause of sorrow to their Lordships; the coi&nu-
ance of it, therefore, could not now fail to call
forth the sincerest expression of their sympathy.
Tney hail also now to pay the mournful tribute of
their sorrow to the memory of her late Majesty,
who, for so loot( and 40 eventful a period, had p►e-
sided over the Court of Great Britain, adorning it
by her eminent virtires, and preserving its purity
by her owls proud example. During that pe;iod,
the Court of this country was the object of uni-

aerial esteem and aolunrosion ; and now that it has
lost her mortice, by whom its character had been
so highly elevated, it became every person in the
country to mourn that event as one that claimed
their deepest regret.
The Noble Earl then ullirding to the general
politics of the country, said, it would be pregsnip-
tuous in him to enter into a detail of the circum-
stances connected with them. Ile however could

not but consider the withdiawing of the troops iii
France. as an event of the most beneficial nature,
not only to that country, but to the geueral con-
cerns of Europe. It had coir4oliolated tie peace
for which Great Britain had so long and so daunt-
lessly contended, and hall secured it on thaw priu-
ciples which had uniformly guided the Councils of
this Empire. To that end hail our armies been
succemlid in the field—in that raid had our movies

triumphed on the ocraii—hut not until this object
was completed could our triumphs have been en-
joyed, and it was a sonree of congratulation that
the peace of Europe had at length been established
upon grounds more secure than the most sanguine
minds could have contemplated. With respect to
our affairs in India, the late events hail only
tended to establish cur possessions on a more
secure foundation. Our territories there have been
secured by signal successes, our arms have been
downed by brilliant achievements, our commerce
has been extending its influence, our revenues
have been rapidly augmentiog, every source of
national prospeety seems to open with a more than
ordinary bounty ; and with these causes of proud
exultation to excite their admiration and their
gratitude, he should conclude by moving an Ad-
dress, in answer to Its Royal Highness's most gra-
cious Speech.—( liear. hear.)
The Noble Earl then read the Address, which
was, as usual, Hit echo of the Speech.
The Address being read from the IVoolsack,
Lord SA LTOU N rose for the purpose of seconding
it, which he did very briefly. lie alluded in terms of
regret to the continued Indisposition of our revered
Sovereign, unit to the more recent national cala-
mity—the demise of her ;Majesty. The general
regret at the Queen's decease, ought, lie remarked,
to be at least ColllrrlrtibUride with the high and signal
benefits that were derived from her Majesty's virtues
and example to the cause of social order, by the
promotion of rr.orality and religion. These benefits
wets the more important, iu consequence of Itie
great and general demoralization that had taken
place in a neighbouring country, and was spreading
Its pernicious influence over every other people.
At that period the high qualities of her Majesty
served to repel their encroachment, and under tier
powerful protection, and aided by her example,
the Court of Great Britain became the seat of
purity and virtue. The Noble Lord then briefly
alluded to the political events noticed in the
Speech, and remarking uu the occupation of France
by the Allied armies, observed, that the recent re-
missal id Ihore armies Info's, die period regularly
!Italic, 41 by the previous Tt,..ty for unit event, wi,s
the wily iiistance iu gelieral history wheivin great •
tuilitaiy Powers, in pusses ton of a foreign country,
literally fulfilled the conditions of their engage-
nituts.—( lierse.)-1 is a low tone of voice he re-
marked on the advantages of the Conveotion with
America, and the happy conclusion of the war in
India ; and concluded by seconilin4 the Address.
'Elie Marquis of LANSDOWN rose, net fur the
purpose of offering any objections to the Addles,
moved and sec led by the Noble Lords opposite,
for in the firms of the Speech and of the Ailtheii
he heartily concurred. In being enabled thus to
espies) himself, he felt a matisfact the most sin-
cere, because it was at all times painful to hint to
offer any opposition to a Speech at the commence-
ment of a Session; butt it would he perllCki lady
painful to him uu the priesetit uccnsior, when 2 CCU-

PRICE I VEN-reNcE.

iderabl. pert of thr Athlretot to which they were

I C.0111:11f lIP C0111.1,«,1 in II l4il ii. e

of eoridolerice.—(llenr, hew-, /.cur.)—ilitt 1,. gtv-
tug his awed to the Ire ‘iiN of the Siweel!,
felt himself hound to make some observation,*
not so much on the topics that were contained in it, •
es MI those which seemed to have been carefully
excluded from it. Those that were introduced
into it were of the most igreeable nature. In the
first, relating to the establishment of a general peace,
by the Treatiesof Aix-la-Chapelle, he most heartily
coucurrvil. It was indeed a matter for 'lmitation
that pence had at length been restored ; but what
degree of hope might be formed with regard to it.
costinuuuce he was net prepared to say, until lie
had received much fuller information respecting it
then was contained in the Prince Regent's Spet eh
until be had heard whet the balatwe of power was
that had been finally established in Europe—what
the relation. that exrited between the several States.
Th., evacuation of France met with his Wiest eon.
cur/eller ; for lie felt that, in restornig France In
her proper independence, much had been done to-
wards confirming the proper system of Europe,
and that security could thus be obtained which it
was impossible 'o expect while France was kept in
a state of bondage. Hitt, happy as he was to see
her returning her proper rank, he could not ft., I a
confidence in the establttlinient of her tranquillity,
miles. it sieve confirmed by the wise and liberal po-
licy of her internal govt riiment —unless he saw the
House of Bourbon promote the growth and per-
nistience of her fret institutions.

Ile could tint dismiss this sorlieet. Geis; no from
the Congress at Aix•la-Chapelle, without
oh•erv-
ing. that it would have added much to Ins
11.1.1 it been pos•ihle to have introduced into
the Speech some intimation that efforts had heel'
made in obtain from the united Powers an eoffsee.
meat for terminatiug, throughout every ilace 'le-
der European control, the abotninataie truffle in
slaves. Ile had hoped that, in the various concertos
of the lute Congress. ties subject had not been fer-
ellen—NlA that, as a means of utterly pre veining
the possibility of the slave trade, a mutual rii.ht
seat ell had, under proper restrictions, h►eo deter-
!pitied. He was conviticed that he should hear of
sonic e xertions having been made by his Nlajest)'s
Ministers—but he lanteuted that the Speech dirt not
speed'', as the result, the final extinction of this re-
volting traffic.— ( Hear, hear.)
The improvement in the revenue, the increase
of commerce, the revival of industry, were to hirn
subjects of sincere satisfaction, but the prosperity
of which these seemed to he the promise end the as-
wurance, lied not, as far as his own, and he faetreil
their Lordships' experience went, hitherto reached
that clam of society which most required the hand
of relief-whe meant the labouring class. Neither
hail the improvement of the revenue extended so
far as to relieve Porliament from every apprehens:on.
The improvement had indeed been considerahle.
In the consolulattd fund lie believed, the increase
amounted to three mil;ion., a• compared with the
produce in the last year; but the excess arnentit.,l
only in from '2 to 300,0001. and this was totally
entree up by the arrears in preceding years, of which
a very large amount still remained ouprovided for.
In the year now termi.tated, tins revenue ■mount-
ed to 53,000.0001. while the expetilittare a tioettiteel
to 0,000,000/. ; and supposing the 111,1.41(111CW
of the present year to equal that of the year just
ternimated, there would be it defirismcy of
14,000,0001. a sum equal to the sinking fund ; fir
!hit 1100)1114 would reusaln applicable to relieve the
country from the tremendous burden of the public
debt, a burden which, so long as it continued, must
to a certain extent neutralise the energies of the
people, and in the event of a future war, cramp the
exettions that might be thought necessary fur the
public good. He was aware, however, that the
supplies required for the present year, would be
considerably less than those of the year preceding ;
but supposing them to be less I, the sum of foot-
indlions, there would then remain only 4.000,000/.
applicable to that great and essential object. It
would be the duty of Parliament again and awaits
to review the state of the revenue, to ascertain
what reductions might be made consistent with the
public service.
He lamented that in the Speech no allusion was
made of what were the intentions of the Prince fte-
gent's Ministers upon the state of the currency of
the country. This was an omission for which he
was sincerely sorry, because in his it dud no general
sv,tem of legil.littioN enuid be adopted tcitl t pre-
viously ascertaining the nature or the ;:entral cur-
rency. The Existence of a paper cuur•eney, con-
vertible into nothing of value, was so anomalous to
every principle of government, of political economy,
Or Of commerce, that it deranged every part of the
system. But the uncertainly Putt prevailed re-
sperting• its contuntance, was, if possible, fraught
with still greater disadvantages. No superstruc-
ture could he raised without ..scertaining the basis.
It was necessary for the Bunk liirectors, it was ne-
cessary fur the tradesman, it was necessary for the
Legslature limit', that the state of uncertainty
should at length terminate. He wis aware, if Ise
coosulted the Statute Book, such en intimation
might lie thought unnecessary; he was aware that
many might conceive him otiresmontible, with the
Statute open before him, ascertaining the period
when the exclusive paper currency should te►mi-
nate, in thins requiring • specific assurance On the
subject —(Heur, ltear.)-.- But was there a man in the
country who felt himself secured on this point, or
coal) even speak with (*dainty as to the amount
or security of his property ? IVhile seat h I.n oe-
certainty existed, could their Lordships enter iota
a consliteration of the affairs pt the poor, whee.er
interests were more deeply involved in this sub-
ject that many people were well aware of, or how
could they engage in • review—whether lirCel
airy or not, he should not thus earl., say—hot
while this uncertainty continued, how could their
Lordships eligige in a revision of that crud,that
dreadful prowl code, of •ehich the means for pre-
staving the paper curreur•y formed so Loge sun

important a point ?—(Hear, hear, hear.)—It mey
be said that there was still sufficient time for the
•-onsideration of this 'Ogre t, and thus they might
be put off from week to week, under pesliajet 11 de-
lusive holw held out by the Batik Directors, that
they would be unable to meet their einvigesortssis
unit' about the latter end of the Sessile,' ; the Noble
Earl opposite would come in the House, and *ll6
Olit any impairy induce the House, by taking it
unprepared, to assent to another continuance of the
restrictinti. It would then, periea+, be fonsid„
that at the bottom of this peace and prosperity SO
loudly vomited in the Speech, lurked some evil—
in the letttein of this cop of happiness now offered
to our Igo. some poison might be foetid to lie,
which would torsi our joys to sorrow.—(Heir./
‘Vith respect to the immediate effect produced
on this country by the paper cut reiley, the insist re-
markable was, that, although the richest m the
'world, possessed of the greatest resented,, the moat
active commerce, and the utmost itirlmorv, it almd
was tumble to ennamend the prvses,ve of the preei-
woo sneak Italy in its retrograde state, Switzer-
bold in its stutioonary end estiolilislord coodition, and
Atiorrica to its progressive state, can all c
them ;hut Eugland alone is unable to 'thane them
as the purchase of her industry.—//fear, hear.)—
iVith respect to America, of which he always de-
sired to speak with respect and athutrotion, he felt
the utmost entisfaction at the continuance of the
C sue, tal Convention. But in alluding to that
maguey, it was impossible for him to remain ode ot
upon au uliforttioate transaction that had lately
occurred there, in which two British subjects
lust their lives. He referred to the cases of Ar-
buthnot and Ambiister, to which public ittten-
lion hail been so earnestly directed. IVithrout
stopping to inquire how far such an act of yin-
Idler (for an act of violence at least it must be
etsarvitirord) was convivtent with the politicel institu-
tions of the Snare, where it might be ex-
pected that the severity of the rules of war would
rather be relaxed than stretched to their summit
rigour, he elimild merely itbeerve, its far as he could
iroolket front the proceedings given by the Court
blame' that tried the neliappy men, that lions ever
Aitibuster ought have rendered himself aubject to
such laws, there was no evidence to criminate
Aibutlitior, and that even the execution of the
former was nut werrantrd by the sentence of his
Judges. The act oof violence was one arising from
another act of violence, namely, the seizure of the
Spanish settlensents, with which this country had
ow concern, but the transaction, he was well aware,
rested eltogether with individuals, and by no awaits
involved the Government of the United States.
(Hear, hear, from the Treasury Beurhes.)—With
respect to the affairs of India, it was not necessary
MI that occasion to give a definitive ()pinion
(Hear, hear, from she Treasury Benches)—but he
was caudated' that the measures pursued by the
Mei gins of Hastings, were measures of defence,
and that no aggressions had been mode by the Bri-
tish Power, for the purposes of astibition.—(!leer,
hear.!—The Noble Marquis concluded by hoping
the House would turn its most earnest attention to
consideration of the resources of the coutttry.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL expressed his high gra-
titicatiost at the genera! concurretwe of the Noble
Iblartitils in the sentinsento and 'toilet' coutanted in
thee Speech. Indeed, it was never more desirable
that • perfect nnaniutity should be obtained in an
Addiess—bectouse„ as the Noble Marquis had re-
marked, II considerable part of it was couched in the
language of condolence for the loss of a Personage.
no less exalted by her virtues than her rank—of
condolence which should not be marked by words
skier, but by the expression of that public
aciainwitt which venerated her for the virtues
lobe displayed in an age of the world when it was
most necessary to manifeet theist for the preserva-
tion of every thing estimable in society, and the se-
curity of the general happiness.—(lleore, hear.)—
He had not doubted of she Noble Nlarques's up-
prubatiim of the final evacuation of the French an.
ritory, and it offered metier for congretulation that
Framer had acted in such a manlier as to enable the
assainbled Powers of Europe to fulfil, in the
blits•trilt veme, the terms of their obligation', eves'
before the time prescribed by the Treaty. It was,
jutted!, every respect desirable that this event
should have taken niece before the lime originally
apputitted for its occurrence, because it chewed the
priticiple on which the Allied Powers had acted
unseal* France, and that the measure of occupa-
tion) had been race of necessity and not of choice,
which ehlould cease to operate as soon as cir-
lllll eliould permit. It was also of ad.
%dotage hey its mural effects, that it should
tame occur; because if the Allied army was
not withdrawn until the end of the fifth
par, it would then be r onenlered not till Bet of
choice but of necessity, and the Allied Sovereigns
,null obtain no credit for the pr' iples which find
liollooliced their actions. The Noble Marquis had
t. iiiilit!il his confidence in the continuance of peace,
until lie should have received further information
icspeeting the uaasurre adopted by the Congress
tit A ix -IAA; handle. On this iloint he should find
that lit. Nlstjeotv'si Ministers were net desirous of
viiiicealment. The Treaties and documents con-
nected with theta should be laud berme Perlis-
aria, cod every other information winch it might
be cuitsiatent with propriety to connioutricete.—
I le felt, however, great benefaction in woofing the
Noble Wantons, and the (lessee, that never, within
his was three a perind gniltilit
Vir lit-4611 such a thorough anxiety prevailed mom;
all the principal Cabinet. of Europe to 'weeder
peace nod trauquithty, when ilia
reiglis were 'tot only more exeiopt loom every feel-
ies:t ofambition, but even from every desire to noose
sdarni or anxiety. A lluditig to the Slave Trade, be
it noted hie Majesty's 3111110de would receive credit
for making today 'flint to ire the Abolition emu.
plated ; and lie egret 41 with the Noble Msrquue,
that this great wink could be effected solely by
• etablishiag a well-regulated tight of stareb. The
Noble Kill then briefly ollutled to the Colmar-
vial Coot claim' with the Untied Shari oI A lin,
Riga to the improvement of our comsat rye.
respect In our iereoue, lie 111111111Irll re( y
I lEift should hit tua.le to rend. r a surplus *to ail-
utile to the rerluclitas the Nation:al I)tbt. Thee
ereet object. ..no which the isle my of the coots-
. 11- ussil Its leisure imacr 'JO war depended, slteuld
utter he low eglit of, and lie ousted they had tit
length writes' at s Felled alit ii they would I
embltd to make a toy tobjuilaut beguile:l,j. It

should not, however, he forgotten, that while op the
conclusion of all other wars, there had usually
been so increase of taxes, a diminution of not less
than seventetai millions and a b tlf had been made
since the termination of the late hostilities. On
this suhfret lie woold not he justified in saying any
thing more at iiirsritt, as the subject would at a
more efilivriiirot time he brought before the con-
sideration of the Douse.
_ _ .

Alt! gh he differed from the Noble Marquis in
s of his views respecting the general currency of
the cnuuitry. yet he did not mean to underrnte the
importesice of the subject. II; however, was not
u•u.ul to introduce such matters into the Speech sit
the commencement of the Ses►ion—they were left
to the spoliteneous consideration of Parliament.
There was nut, he assured the House, a man in the
country more anxious than he was to return
to a wholesome and secure currency, of paper
convertible ut pleasure into coin ; but he had
alwiiys kit. and had so expressed himself ins
curious occasions, that tlie greatest inconvenience
which was to i.e dreaded from the Bank Restriction
was the diffieulty of putting an end to the system.
Ile hail, on the termini:lmm of war, great hopes that
the period might have beers then defined when this
system could he closed with safety. Three years
since he had, in that feeling, proposed that a Bill
should be passed into a law, empowering the
Bank to postpone the time for returning to
cosh payments for two years further. But last
Session the [loose had not sat three days,
when he inf►rmed them that the great 'pecu-
niary transactions in which certain foreign Govern-
ments were likely to be engaged, would prevent
the sale return to cosh payments. These causes
sell continued to operate, and it might not be im-
possible that they shonlil prevent the termination
of the present system on the sth of July next ; but
should such be the case, it would be the part of
('.rluau►eut to propose as short a space of time as
possible for the continuance of the restriction, so
that Parliament might be enabled to take the sub-
ject luta its consideration at an early period in the
ensuing Session.
It was a connsule►able gratification to him to be
enabled to inform the House, that the subject of
the repeated forgeries ou the Bank of England had
been seferred to a Commission, composed of men
of scietice nod great practical experience, and that
they had entertained the warmest hopes of being
enabled to devise sonic means, if not of preventing
forgeries altogether, at least of removing the pre-
sent great facility. " To-morrow I, or my Noble
Friend, shall present to the House the first Re-
port of that Commission." The Noble Earl then
alluded briefly to the case of Messrs. Arbuthnot
and Ambrister, and said that he should at the
'argent muu►ent consider it premature to apprise
the House of the steps adopted with respect to that
transaction by his Majesty's Ministers. But what-
eser might he the character of that set, it was un-
authorised by the Government of the United States,
und dune without its knowledge.—(Hear, hear.)
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, he did not feel
that extreme satisfaction at the Speech, and the
Address now proposed, as had been expressed by
the Noble Lords opposite. He rejoiced as much
as any one in the improvement of the revenue, but
he attributed that improvement to the industry and
exertions of the people—(Hear, hear.)—But no
exertions hail been made on the part of the Govern-
norm to new model or ameliorate the system of tax-
ation, as hid been done on the termination of all
former wars. Why had not the war taxes, which
the people had been taught by those who had im-
posed them would he removed on the return of
peace—why have they not been submitted to the
consideration and revision of Parliament? Minis.
tors have preferred taking these matters into their
Inure especial protection, and the more constitu-
tionol coarse of Parliamentary investigation has
been poraisoned to their cusivenience.--(Hear,
hear. )—I le remarked on general principles of poli-
tical re my, that the commerce of this country
could nut improve if that of other countries was
irrishilnted, Hod he thought the time had now sr.
sired when ne should reduce the taxes we have itn-
'surd upon the importation of foreign productions.
He approved of the prniciple of the American Com-
mercial Coils, minis, and observed, that no nego-
v:iator, however skilful, could conclude a commer-
cial treaty, by which be could secure all the ad-
ventages to his country. and yield none in return.
The Noble Earl Olen tusk a review of Ilse enrresicy
ref the conistry, mat gave it as his opinion, that
as lung 115 the present Abut regulations were suffer-
ed to exist, ►o long would I/Insisters find it insist's-
-1.11.11V to severt with safety to a metallic currency.
The question was then put and carried nemine
disientiente.