The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-28 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
WEDNISIDAY, APRIL C 7.
Mr. Towns'end, NVindsor t-lerald, was further ex-
amined in the Commi.tee ►•f Pr;vile►;es, on the claim
of the Chandos Peerage, after which the farther
hearing was adjoutned to Friday.
The Reports from the Committee without, on the
three Irish Private Bills, the Bur►on Banks Bill, the
Stepney Estate Bid, and Lard Roden's Estate Bill,
were real, when

Lord REDESDALE said, that as the parties in-
terested in those Bills were satisfied with the certifi-
c rtes of the Irish Judges, it was unnecessary for him,
after what he had said on tlyc subjeCl the preceding
Jay, viz. that some legislative nn•asure to enforce
these witnesses who gave evidence in Ireland un
l'tivate Bills of that Country, punishable here, if
they Lad sworn fAlsely, to do more than move that
the three Bills be engrosse.l.—Ordered.
The business un the Table was gone through.—
As: ji med.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
WeDNEIDAV. APRIL 27.
Mr. BOYL) ALI-AMMER brought in a Bill
for improving the harbour of Greenock, by ereeting
wa. h. .uses and building a dry dock ; read a
first time, and ordered to he read a secoad time.
Mr. BRAGGE moved for leave to bring in a
Rill thr improving and renderi:.g more commodious
,rwiri of Ili
Mr. W. DI 'NI /AS said, that he had intimated
an ;ntention, three weeks ago, of making a motion
for leave to brilig in a Bill for the relief of the
Schoolmasters of 3coriand ; he therefore gave no.
tice that he should move f a- leave to bring in a Bill
accoidingly, on this day se'nnight.
Mr. Lie'} ENS moved the Order of the Day,
for the House resolving itself into a Committee of
the e• hole House on the further consideration oldie
Coroners' Bill.
Ora the motion that the Speaker should leave the
Chair,
Sir WHEAT BUXTON rose to oppose it; he
obs..rved, that the avidity with which the situation
WAS sought, and the severe contests which so often
toek pl.h.c for it, were sufficient proofs that they
I:ere well paid ; he therefore saw no grcuads for
for incurring any additional expense.
Mr. It :RhT was Strelld for the question; he
said that the situation of a Coroner was such, that
men of the most respeCtable charatlers should alone
he de:kJ to it ; and, when such men came forward,
sealons for the honotn able discharge of so important
a duty, he thought they should he properly remu-
nerated. The allowance for Coroners, 50 years
ago, was nine-pence per miie, and he appealed to
the cant:our of Ole House if (considering the change
of the times) eighteen-pence was too notch now. in
his county Coroners wine men of the most respeCta-
Me charaCters, and he never knew men more atten-
tive to the execution of their office ; he did nut
know a ease in width the public money could be
benrr employed.
Mr. HAUB was in favour of the Speaker's
leaving the Chair, for the purpose of entering into
the merits ef the case.
Sir WII,I.IAM GI: ARY was for going into a
Committee to know what kind of remuneration
should he allowed.
Sir RO B FIT WI lAA A NIS was against the Bill
in every point of view, but particularly in as much
as it regards that part of the country which he so
immediately belongs to, and a part of which he re-
presented ; he meant the Priacipality of W.tles. lie
thought the altogether unnecessary. He had a
knowledge airorded him by the melancholy circurn.
sta7:ce of the frequency of wrecks on the coasts, and
the numbers of bodies on which ita!nests were held.
!le knew that fees to a great amount had been paid ;
aud he loped, should the Bill pass, that a particular
clause would be introduced to exempt that part of
the country from the optration of the Bill.
:tier DICK ENSON, jug. said, he had heard au
Hon. Gentleman say, that a proper remuneration
should be given. He was of opinion, as strongl7 as
the Hon. Gentleman could he, that the laisourer
was worthy of his hire. Pnt it was the peculiar
boast of :his country, a peculiarity which Frothily
distinguished it from surrounding nations, that the
-greater part of the administration of justice in this
country was without remuneration. The office of She-
riff which was of great importance, and to which that
of Coroner bore some degre4: of sintilitude, wax with-
out remuneration, and surly in that case the la-
bourer was worthy of his hire. The Members of
Parliament had a great deal of trouble, without any
remuneration, and surely they are worthy of their
lairsb )
Strangers Wen ordere I to withdraw, when a di-
vision took place.
For the question •
A rai nst it

Majority for the Speaker's leaving the ('hair —I
When strangers were re-admitted, the House was
in a Committee of the whole House.
Mr. JOD DR EL was speaking, and observed, that
it was absurd to lay AR e441A1 charge OR !Net y COUR-
tv. He therefore moved as an amendment, " That
the present rate of N. per mile should be uorthully
continued, but that it alsoutil be left to the discre-
tion niche magistrates of the county to extend that
turn to Sod. as circninsteoces may reqnine."
Mr. DICKENS was warmly in support of the
Bill. An allusim had been nude .to inesseng,•rs,
who were alli.wed o:dlycif-per.ce per mile, but he
thought the coniFn i..on an improper one in this case.
Mr. Dl( jim. was in favour of the
anwochicct, not because he was in favour of the
Bill, which he wat. totallF averse to, but because it
lodged the discretionary power, in its proper place—
the breams of the risag•it.mates of the county.
Mr. It.iT could lay his hand on his heart, and
declare, that, to the be.t of his opinion, eighteen-
pence per mile was not too lunch.
Sir ROBERT BUXTON was against votiog a
Ilouble allow:1110E at itor moment. it asT.ulti throw a
great weight on the fatuities. If any improper per-
son sent for a Coroner oa an imarTver inquest, was
the county to Fray for that ? Hr twain a inara-
time county, wlkle many tnelanehuly instances, si-
milar to thote araided to by a worthy Baronet, had
taken plice, and he knew the fees were well paid.
It vras net flit that the CARWIAVII of Wales, When`
provisions aid ether noccsuaries N% ere che.+p, should
have as much as the Coroners of 2.lililescs. where
every thing Wit tieltr.
strzpsers were again ordered to widtdraw. when

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tae amendment was carried by. a majority of
, re-admission to the Gallery, the Sp
was in the Chair.
Mr. DICKENSON, km. moped the second r
in" ef the Worllen Clothier's Bill.
Mr. L A SCF.T .1. ES wished the Bill to he referred to
the original Committee, to which the petitions were
referred, as he was not cleat that the petitions he had
presented from some of his constituents sere laid
bethre that Committee.
Mr. DICK ENSON, jun. could not conceive what
the Hon. Gentleman could have in vkw, by refer-
ring the Bill back to the original Committee, where
Counsel had been already heard in behalf of the
petitioners.
Mr. LASCELLES explained. He thought it may
be a better mode to refer it back to the original
Committee, than to the Committee which may now
be appointed to consider of it.
The CHANCELLOR of the F.XCHF.QUER
thought the lion. Gentleman mistaken with regard
to the forms of the House. It was not allowed to
refer a Bill back to any Committee. Ile hoped
however an opportunity would be afforded the
I louse in a Committee 0) consider the clauses sepa-
rately, with all the obje,Ftions made up-stairs to
them.
Mr. LASCELLES said, he did not mean to enter
on the merits of the Bill, but in a case of so much
importance, which went in some de&eat to repeal all
the laws on the subjeCt since the reign of Elizabeth,
the utmost precaution and attention was necessary.
Admiral BERKELEY hoped his I lon. Friend
would not delay the progress of the Bill. The ma
nufaattrers had been allowed sufficient time to c.
skier the best method of opposing it. He had pre-
senteJ petitions numerously signed against partien-
hr parts of the Bill, and he imagived the petitions
may be rZetred to a Committee above-stairs, and
Counsel heard there. It was said that the woollen
manufaCture was brought to the perfeCtion which it
has attained by the operation of those laws now
ahout to be repealed, but the reverse was the fad.
These laws had remained dormant, and it was the
revival of them that caused the manufaCturers to
come forward on this occasion. He hoped the Hon.
Gentleman would not object to have petitioners
heard by Counsel up stirs.
Mr. 'WILBERFORCE said, it was a subjea of
the greatest importance ; it would be for the Com-
mittee to enquire into the nature of the allegations,
and communicate the result to the House, and all
persons concerned should bring forward what fails
they could alledge on the subjekl.
The Bill was then read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed.
Mr. HOBI101.7:4. said a request had been made
tt. him, by various petitioners, to make a motion
for granting them leave to be heard by Counsel in
the Committee, to which the Bill was referred,
against it. He gave no opinion respe.cting the me-
rits of the Bill. But he would make a remark, that
a most respcnable body of men, the principal ma-
t:lilac:hirers of Wiltshire, Somersetshire, and Glou-
cestershire, were equally desirous to have evidence
heard in the Committee, so that the fullest infor-
mation may be laid before the House ; he therefore
moved, that the several petitions against the Bill be
referred to the said Committee, and that the peti-
tioners should he heard by Counsel.—Agreed to.
Mr. DICKENSON see. then moved, that Cour.-
sel should be heard against the said petitions, against
the said Bill.—Agreed to.
Mr. LEE moved, that the PetiLions of the Officers
of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland, should be refer-
red to a Committee, which was agreed to, and a
Committee appointed accordingly.
Mr. LEE presentedat Petition from the Tanners
of Waterford, against certain provisions of the Lea-
ther Ta). Bill.—Ordered to lie on the Table.
On the motion of Sir WILLIAM GEARY, the
Sheerness Pier Bill was read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed.

Mr. ALEXANDER brought up the report of
the Hill for providing for the families of Militia-men.
—Ordered to be taken into Waller consideration on
Monday next. _ _

The SPEAKER informed the ilouse, that as a
Ballot stood fr to-morrow, there was an order in
force for taking down the names of absent mem-
bers, and also a call of the House.
The other orders of the day were then read and
deferred .—Adj ou rued.

THRATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
T: :IS EI:I.:N.INC. will Ix- !wrform,_.(l a New Comely called
THE MARRIAGE PROMISE.

The CharAtter: by Mr C. K..alble, Mr. Dwyer, Mr. Dow-
ton, Mr floiling.worth, Nfr. Mr. PAlmer, Mr.
Pope, Mr. Powel, Mr. Purser, Mr. Evans. Mrs. Povre:l,
Mitt Mellon, Mrs. Jor.lin, Mrs. S;airk,r, Mrs. Madtlocki.
The Prolog ae to be sisik,,it by Mr. Dwyer,
To which w.l be ad,letl,

A HOUSE TO BE SOLD,
To-morrow, the New Conavdy, with lurtunt'i

TIIEATRE-ROTJL, COVENT-GARDEN.
E w'ENING will be piregeettl a New Comedy called
JOHN BULL;

Or, AN ENGLISIIMAN'a FIRE-SIDE.
. The principal Chandlers by
Mr. Lewis, Mr. Coolie, Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Johnstone,
Mr. H. Jolootari, NU. Rlanchani, Mr. Eaierr, M.. Walk,
Mr.. Gibbs, Mrs. Powel, and Mis.; ‘ltrrintt.
lVith a Lyrical Epilogue by Mr. Johiistorrz.
To which will be added,

'nu FLITCH OF BACON.
Tipple, Mr. Munclen ; Mr-. Smith, (late Mi.: Dixon.)
411. i Saucil,iy, the hievo Co tied) of John Bull.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON, •
THURS DAY, Arita 8.

The Paris papers have of late brought very little
intelligence of any moment ; we have, therefore,
little reason to regret that none arrived in the course
of yesterday. This deficiency in the public prints
cannot be supplied by private correspondence, and,
therefore, the loss is the more serious. Nobody,
indeed, can be weak enough to en:yea through
either channel any information upon the subjea
of the pending negotiation. There are, however,
many other source N of information, of great, though
inferior interest, upon avhich p.ivate letters never
tolch. The truth is, under every despotism, the
people live in ignorance, and such is the severity of
the Police is Paris, every man feeling himself

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watched, is nbliged tt, gttard his conversatitm arra his
eorrispolidence.': Some bagatelle or"' cofTve-hause
chAtlarq thoreforpo all that can be expeCied from
a private fetter. In this state of things the
only satisfactory information is that which is derived
from persons recently come from France. We
have conversed with several of that description, ob-
serving men, long resident in Paris, and capable of
forming a correi.t opinion upon passing events. A
gentleman of this class who left Paris on Saturday
morning, states it to have been the general opinion
in that city, that war is inevitable. This opinion
is the more to be relied upon, because it is not
influenced by the wishes of the people.—Their
opinion is founded in the belief that the two
Governments have so far committed themselves
upon certain points, that neither can recede with
honour. BONAP ART E demands the execution of
the whole treaty of Amiens. The English Minister
stops at Malta, and both are pledged to their respec-
tive principles. If, however, the people of France
be against war, the army of France is clamorous
for it. The French soldiers have not yet learned to
turn their swords into plough-shares, and to culti-
vate the arts of peace. They have not yet forgot
their harvest campaigns and crops of plunder. In
the army of France, nothing therefore is tAlked of
but the invasion of England, and the consequent
plunder of the country. Every soldier forms
his plan of the war, and calculates the means
of viaory. With the first sound of the trumpet
that proclaims hostilities, Hamburgh and Por-
tugal arc to fall, and furnish fuel for the con-
test, while England is invaded by four divisions
upon foul- several points. This opposition between
the civil and military part of the French community
is a source of great anxiety to the Government. To
govern a discontented people in the absence of
100,000 men, his sanguine friends and supporters,
might prove a dangerous crisis to the Finsr CON.
set. He has won the Crown of the Botersom, he
means to wear it, and if any thing could teach
caution to his headlong ambition, it is the dread
of giving up a permanent for a precarious
power. The policy therefore of the French Go-
vernment is to produce an unison between the people
and the army of France ; to irritate and enflame
the people of France u ith the outcry of English
perfidy and English hostility. Its success in this
vocation has been considerable, but until it prove
complete, the FIRST CONSUL will not risk a war
with England.

'The Funds improved yesterday without any osten-
siblz cause. They left off at tis:.

Yesterday a Court of Direaors was held at the
East India House, when Captain THOMAS MOR-
T! M and CHARLES GRAHAM were sworn into the
comm:.nd of the General Stuart and Tigris ;- the for-
mer destined to Madeira, Madras, and Bengal ; the
latter, ;Madeira and Bengal. The Court adjourned
at six o'clock till NN'edncsday next.
Yesterday the dispatches for Madras and Bengal,
by the Eurcpt, were finally closed at the East India
I louse, and delivered to the Purser. Her passen-
',ers arc,