The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-18 00:00:00

intetTst was o=6ll7lonm than that widowed by law. Sieee, then,
these laws diifnut effect that for which they were enacted, and
tonged only to encoarege an immoral system, and, in reality, to put
theater:ewer in a worse state, he would give the Bill bis.support.
Mr. Iioas.RTSON explained.
r. Alderman H E Yfl ATE, said that the commercial prosperity
of the centutry ought nut to be entirely attributed to the removal of
the Itestrictien Laws ; for it was notorious, that in the year 1793,
h;elt WAS about as long after the American war, as the present
year is after the Enoch, commerce as much flourished, public
credit was as high as now, anti yot the Silk Laws. alai others if a
similsrly restricting nature, were then in force. He contended, that
the repeal of the l'ittry Laws would not be beneficial to commercial
men generally,though it might to a few; and assured thel louse, that
the case of a man working his capital, through the name of another,
while be Ininself avoided an responsibility, was by no means
chimerical—indeed, :even or eight persons responsibility
spoken to him of
the possibility of such a case. So tar the Solicitor-General was
mistaken.
The soLicrrortmENEß.ll.—The Worthy Alderman
quite mistakes my line of arpinient. I contended lug the likelihood
of such a case, and was showing, that from the repeal of these laws
botherischief and fraud might arise.
Mr. Alderman BEVOATE resumed,—he contended, that if
this Bill passed, great injury might arise to the Government of the
rountr) when they 'warned to borrow money, if it should so happen
that money was scarce at the time. It use Usury Laws were not
in existence, the probability was, that the national debt, instead of
Leing eight hundred millions, would be much inure. (Cries of
Question.")
Mr. NIA BE RLY said a few words.
Mr. THOMAS WILSON contended there was no case made
met lh support of the hill ; the arguments were all on the other
aide. He thanked the Soiicitor-General for his clear elucidation of ;
the question ; and expressed hi; opinion, that the Bill would in-
jere the landed proprietors. Ile 'lid not speak of those who were
driven to borrow money from extrioweince, but of men ot fortune
and large property, whose affairs were so circumstanced as to make
it neceimary fur them to rise money, either no account of settle-
ments for younger children, or other family arragements. The HOW.
Gentleman in continuation said, that in opposing the Bill be was
acting against the opinion of many of his constituents ; tau, per-
hays, against his own interest.
Mr. ALT WOOD supported the Bill, he considered every law
that supported restriction us unjust.
Mr. T. WILSON said, he left it to the Worthy Alderman to
oppose the Bill on the grounds of public interest. 11, indeof, it
was against the interest of Government, why were not Ministers in
their place to oppose it, and not leave it to the afiiious meddling
of the Worthy .aldertitan ?
31r. Alderman lIFYGATE said he must insist the words, ii
" officious meddling," ought not to have been used.
Mr. CHARLES WYNN said, he had no intention in taking
any part in the debate, but that his colleagues had been alluded to.
So far were they from thinking the Bill likely to be injurious, that
they all, with the exception of the Secretary fur Foreign Affairs,
had already expressed their opinion, to that effect ; and, indeed, the
President of the Board of Trade loud relnested hint to attend the
house that evening to TOM in favour of the Bill. 111th regard to
the injury Government would sustain by the repeal of the Usury
Laws, in the event of a loan, he would say, that he would con-
sider Government more prejudiced than served if they gained only
by the has of individuals. In answer to the artnunent drawn
from the custom of our ancestors, he would say ttnat it was only
in their infancy trade was restricted. In the reign of Elisabeth
and Charles 11. laws were paved regulating tic price of wive ;
it was enacted that no more thin lid. be given for a rkuart ot cuna y
wine, and not more than lid. for the same quantity ot French wine :
'nay, there was a law regulating
.the price of woollen caps (a laugh)
and also one determining the price of new bolts for slice frig s ith.
The Right llonourable Gentleman, after some further observations,
concluded with expressing his intention to support the
Mr. tsiutafr protested against the introduction of such illus-
trations as that of woollen caps or new bolts ; they had nu analogy
whatever to money. His principal motive for opposing the present
Bill was a wish to consult the comforts of the poorer classes. When
Le considered the great number (of the officers of the law who were
now overrunning the country—(.l laugh)—he expected if this Bill
passed to find one in every village lending money, and anxious'
to make every man his creditor ; then pouncing on hint
and exacting from !din the most exorbitant return for his money.
Money was the real representative of all other species of pro-
perty—it was comfort, convenience, and power. He concluded by
saying. that the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wynn) would not
carry his principles into effect in that country over which he
possessed an almost unlimited rule.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, amid laud cries of " Ques-
tion, question !"
For the Bill
Against it - . - 4d
Majority against the Bill
The other Orders of the Day were then d;spused of, and the
House adjourned at TWELVE o'clock.