The National Register.
London, England, 1814-05-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTEtt.

• Mr. WHITBREAD then said he should beg leave to make a few
observations on the use that was made of this Alien Act. Berenger
had been arrested under it, on the pound that he wala person
dangerous to the safety of the conntiv. Was not this an arbitrary
stretch of the powers of the act? lie had read it carefully, and
could acc no proviso in it for depriving a person of any thing but
arms : yet this person's papers, clothes, and even his money, had
been taken from pion; the fatter of which had indeed been returned
to him in substance, but not iu effects. Yet so far from this person
being considered a dangerous subject, he had been in the country
ever since 1788, and had long been employed as an Officer in his
Majesty's service. It was incumbent on the Officers of the state
to account for this strange extension of the Alien Act; and it they
did nut account for it in a manner that should appear to him per-
fectly satisfactory, Le should feel it his duty to move for such a
Committee as was appointed to enquire into the case of Mr. Col-
ville. The honourable gentleman moved, that the Petition do lie
on the table.

Mr. ADDINGTON would not object to the 'Petition lying► on the
table, but he would merely state, that Beeenger was arrested, and
detained by a warraat from the Secretdry of State, on gronnds to-
tally distinct and unconnected with the prosecution instituted by
the Stock INchange. He was still detained in Newgate for the
same cause that led to his arrest by an alit•rt messenger. What this
cause was, thf• Hon. Gentleman would not, of course, expect him
to explain. He would therefore only say, that a great part of his
letters had been restored to him ; that he remained in Newgate at
his own express desire, in prefeteuce to being remanded to the
custody of the, alien messenger.

Mr. BATIIL'RST contended that the conduct of Berenger fully
justified the mode of his arrest and detention ; and added, that he
was not committed to Newgate under any reference to the afNirs
of the Stock Exchange, but in comequenee of subsegnent oc-
currence 4. It the Officers of the State had exceeded their folic-
till's, the House was aware that they were responsible for so
doing.
After a dilenssiott in which the arguments on both sides were
often repeated, and in which Abeicromby, Lord A. Hamilton,
Sir F; Burde t, Nlr. Ponsimby, the Attarucy-General, Sir S. ito.
ntilly, the Solicitor-General, Ali. W. Wynne, Mr. Lockhart, and
Sir J. Blackiutosh, took part, the petition was ordered to lie oo the
table.

Mr. WHITBREAD rose to move for the appointment of a seere t
Committee. This lie thought ought to be done immediately, or,
after what had passed, Mr. De Berenger would be injured instead
of being benefited by coming to that House. He th►»►eht no in.
convenience could re•nit from this. He concluded by, moving
for -the appointment of a select Committee.
Mr. BATHURST said, the question could be quite as well decided
without a committee : but, at all events, as that was not the proper
time for such a motion as had been made by the 'Honourable Gen-
tlemen, he found it .his duty to move, " [hat the other Orders of
the I)4y be ►tow read."
Another discussion took place, whieit -ended in both motions be-
ing withdrawn, with the understanding Unit the question should be
deliated on Monday.