The National Register.
London, England, 1822-05-26 00:00:00

WEV'S ESDAY,

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The Marquis of LANSDOWNE discharged the order of the
day for susixoding the standing orders of the house, for the
purpose of passing the bill to give employment to the distressed
poor in Ireland. The noble marquis observed, that the bill
would, perhaps, be brought up to-morrow, and in cue it was
laid on their table, he should then make his motion.—The order
was fixed for to-morrow.
EXCISE PROSECUTIONS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, several causes had
come to his knowledge, in which the Excise had prosecuted per-
sons for selling compositions of bread corn, which the Board of
Excise considered a fraud upon the revenue. Statements had
reached him from all parts art the country, complaining of ag-
gravated oppression on the part of the Board of Excise. The
noble marquis did not take upon himself to say whether the
Excise lied acted illegally. Looking at the Act of Parliament
upon which these seizures were made, he was sorry to see that
die Board of Excise had a discretion which Parliament could
certainly never have intended to give them. It bad long been
this intention to introduce a bill to remedythe abuse to which he
alluded ' • but, as he understood a measure was to be brought
into the other house to accomplish the object, he should deter
further remarks until the bill came before the house. The noble
marquis, however, could not avoid saying, that he was persuaded
the revenue might be increased by. introducing a clause in the
Act under which the Board of Excise now proceeded, to oblige
persons to mark their imitative coffee, and other articles of sub-
sistence made from bread corn, so as to shoe there was no fraud
intended, and that no fraud would take place. Such alteration
in the Act could not injure the public, and individuals might sell
fairly such substances made from bread and corn as could not
injure the revenue, but increase the consumpiion of grain, which
at the present time was an object of importance.
Mr. Fellows, from the Stump Office, presented an account of
the number of Country Banks more than sixty miles distant from
London, with the Banks in \Vales.
The rctorn was laid on the table.—Adjourned.
THURSDAY, MAY 23.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL moved the first reading o: the
Bill for the employment of the Poor in Ireland ; and the bill
was accordingly read the lust time.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE then said it was not neces-
sary to address the House at any length in order to induce the
Lords to suspend the standing orders. He should, therefore,
merely move that the standing orders be suspended.
Letd KING was sure the House would feel disposed to pass
this bill with speed, at the same time be could not avoid ex-
pressing a wish that the assistance it was to afford had been
more extensive. Tho measure was to grant 20,0001. to relieve
the starving population of a whole district. It as. in fact not
one-shilling per bead. He had beard of jobs, and in case there
was a job in the application of the above sum, the relief would
not aintaiot to a shilling per head. Some persona had taken
offence at a remark made by a member of the other House,
who charged the landlords of Ireland with rapacity, but Lord
King was of apioloo that it would have been a tree statement,
lied the gentleman alluded to added, that the rapacity of land-
lords was only surpassed by the rapacity of the church, which
agsiu was sorpabsed by the rapacity of the government.
The Earl of LIMERICK rose hestily.—He said the noble

Tftr,

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lord had taken up the ountlet for the peraon alluded to i—to
throw out a general reflection, at a moment when conciliation
was the object, could not be serviceable to Ireland.
Lord KING wished more had been done for Ireland, and he
wa► only anxious it should not be 'aid—Here we will stop, we
can do no more. The relief was trivial. The people of Ire-
land had been oppressed by taxation, and now the government
gave them 20,0001. by way of relief.
The Duke of ATIIO 4 expressed a hope that his noble friend,
at a tine of conciliation, when every man in the kingdom
wished to relieve a suffering people, would not use language
of exasperation, which could only tend to inflame, rather than
conciliate the minds of the people.
Lord KING.—" The Catholic Peers' Bill will soon come
tinder discussion, and it will then be seen what will be done
for conciliation."

The Earl of LIVERPOOL did not wish to prolong this dis-
cussion, at the saute time Lc might say. there was a general
feeling that the measure was advisable under existing circutu.
stauces. If it should appear, under the arrangements pro-
posed iu the bill, that any practical good was likely to result,
lie should not have the least &vette° to extend the sum.
The Marquis of DOW NSIIIRE rose to express his satis-
faction on finding the bill brought in by his Majesty's Govern-
ment. It was an earnest that something was to be done for
Ireland. He was himself a large proprietor of tithes, and
most anxious for a revision of the plyst.:lll. The noble martinis
wished to bear whether government had taken up the subject,
and whether the report was correct, that there was to be some
al.eration in the window tae.. . . .

The Earl of LIVERPOOL hid no hesitation in saying, the
reduction of the window leis in Ireland would depend on other
IlleSSllreS to be introduced in the other House of Varliament.—
If these camisoles meet with approbation, it would induce go-
vernment to repeal the window tea.
Earl DARN LEY wished for conciliation as much as any man.
On the subject of landlords in Ireland, he was persuaded the
Lords could not think all the great landholders of Ireland were
harsh. The middlemen were, perhaps, the cause of the evil.
lie hailed the measure as a boon for Ireland.
The Marquis of LANSDOW NE then gave notice, that it
was his iotentiou to call the attention of the House to a general
measure of conciliation, on some day in the week after neat.
The standing orders were then suspended, and the bill read
a third time and passed.
The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented a petition from the
county of Cork, complaining of agricultural distress.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said the subject of tithes bad
occupied the serious attention of government, and a measure
would be brought forward when in a state of maturity.
Lord HOLLAND thought a discussion of the general state
of Irelaud would be useful.—Adjourned.
FRIDAY, MAY 24.
The Royal assent was given by commission to the Poor in
Ireland Employment Bill, the Silk Bill, lice Seditions Meetings
Bill, and several private bills.—The commissioners were the
Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury, and the Marquis of
W inchester.

Lord HAREWOOD presented a petition from the merchants
and manufacturers in the town and neighbourhood of Leeds, in
the county of York, praying for the repeal of the duties on
foreign wool. Alin
Lord KING preseoteda petition from Wakefield for revision
of the criminal code. _ .

Lord SUFF:ELD presented • similar petition from South
Shields. _ .

Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH preseoted a petition from the
parish of St. Peter, Westminster, agaiust the Catholic Peers
Bill.
THE ANNUITY PLAN.

Lord KING said, as some of the ingenious plans of the Trea-
sury bad failed, and the noble Earl did not communicate to that
House the cause of failure, he was desirous of asking for s4)1110
explanation with respect to the new plan.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that he should not object at
the proper time to give explanation on the measure alluded to
by the noble Lord. It must he obvious that the measure could
not be carried into effect without the authority of another
branch of the Legislature. %%'ben it came upon their table he
should give all the explanation necessary.
Lord KING in reply, said, that the House must be satisfied
with the explanation elsewhere, if they could not have it from
the noble Earl.
The Bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and the
House adjourned to Thursday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MONDAY, )lAT O.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE postponed his motion respecting the
conduct of the public press in Scotland to the 13th June, as some
proceedings in Scotland were definitely fixed for June ad.
SCOTLAND.—Lord A. HAMILTON postponed from Thurs-
day next to June 18, his motion regarding the county representa-
tion, Scotland ; hie Lordship moved resolutions on the subject.
Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition front certain hop growers
of the county of Sussex, complaining of agricultural oistress.—
The hon. member adverted to the injurious tendency of the law
txquiing the marking of hop bags.
• Alr. Alderman WOOD was surprised that the hon. member
should fondemn such law. It was to prevent frauds ; and if
Sussex hops were passed on the public for Kent hops, sonic injury
would be inflicted.
Mr. LUSH I NGTON observed, that he considered such law to
be perfectly just, and that while he remained of such opinion, lie
should resist any attempt to procure its repeal. Petition ordered
to be printed.
Mr. CURTEIS then gave notice, that on Thursday, June 13,
he should move the repeal of the act to mark hop sacks and
pockets.
Sir 11. VI V lAN presented a petition from Truro, praying for
the repeal of the salt tax, as the House were adopting measures
to afflird die country some relief from taxation. Ordered to be
printed.
AGRICULTURAL HORSE TAX.—ML S. WORTLEY pre•
sented a petition from tanners, &c. of Sheffield. He took this
opportunity to enquire whether any relief was to be afforded in
consequence of an unexpected demand on account of agricultural
horses.
Mr. LUSH I NGTON replied, that owing to the bill of last
year, a demand ot 21. 17s. 6d. had unexpectedly been made,
when it was expected that there was to be no tax. That was not
the intention or the law, and instructions bad been given at the
Tax Office to afford requisite relief in such cases; and he should
hereafter introduce a -bill to declare what the intention of the
legislature was.
Alt. ABERCROMBIE presented a petition from a lay im-
propriator, of Mayo, named Carew, praying for a revision of the
tythe system. It said that there was no hope of permanent tran-
quillity except such system was reviled.
Mr. GOULBURN said, that a bill on the subject was prepar-
ing. and in a few days lie should be enabled to introduce it ; till
the provisions of that bill could be considered, he trusted that
hon members would suspend their opinions.
Mr. PLUNKETT said, that this petition merely required an
alteration in the mode of collecting the tydies. As to the cause of
the evils, he repeated that the great evil was, not tytbes, but the

rents. With roped to tythea.he thought that measures might be
adopted torches" Ireland from tythe farmers and tythe proctors ;
and it' this could be done, he considered that important relief
would be affinded.
Sir J. NEwrota declared, that nothing but an entire mi.
shin of the system would produce any good. He could see no
reason why a commutation of receipts might not take place. If
the present system continued, C:cre would be a constant increase
of the disaffection in Ireland, till the people would be wholly
alienated hom the establishment.
l'etition ordered to be printed.
Mr. lIUNIE presented- a petition from the law stationers of
I.oniltin, bigned by between eu and SO of them, against the
Stamps' Belief 11111, Two clauses in it would materially affect
them; the proposition was to lower the allowance ot4os on
stamps purcir.sed to the amount of Sol. to 20s. It was also par-
tial, because the bill did not atlct the regulations regarding
proctors and distributors. They prayed that the clause., might
be omitted or amended. Charred to be printed.
Mr. G. BENNET moved to postpone the second reading of
the Licensing Bill to Friday next t—lie postponed this motion
because the Bill was not not yet printed.
11011110 USE postponed till June 19, his motion for
the repeal of the house and window lax; he made such postpone•
ment to ace what relief measures would be proposed by the
min isters.

....
WODE HOUSE presented a report from the committee
appointed to conaider the petitions on agricultural distress. it
embraced the regulatiLas to be adopted respecting the ware.
honseing of tbrei:m corn.
The House went into a committee on the Marriage Act
Amendment Bill. in which Dr. Phillimore made soave verbal
amendments.

Mr. Eri I EREI.L cowl:lined greatly of this bill. A more
monstrous bill, calling itself amendatory of the law, he had
never seen. It would be a greater incitement than now existed
to fonu improper matriages. Ile Lund:mitt! with moving as an
amendment of the first clause, that all the words after " Be it
enacted" be left out.

fir .1. AIACINTOS'II was astonished to hear it, in fact,
declared in that House, that an emendation of the marriage
act was net necessary ; the existing law occasioned discord
in families, injury to. property, and much calamity in various
forms. For years it was considered that the consent of die
natural mother was sufficient ; a recent decision had established
the contrary by law and was this std state of law with which
they were to be satisfied?
1 he amendment was negatived.
After a long conversation between Dr. Phillimore, Mr. We-
therell, Sir J. Macintosh, bee. all the remaining clauses were
agreed to, with the exception of that which went to make th
operation of the act retrospective. as to as regarded suits for nul-
lity of marriage now pending. That clause was negatived. The
report was ordered to be received to morrow.
Mr. WALLACE moved, that the House go into a committee
on the Navigation Laws Amendment Bilk In doing so he took
a review of some of the obj.s:tions that had been urged against
the measure, and submitted that they were answered by the
evidence and report resulting from the foreign trade committee.—
This bill, as well as the measures regarding colonial intercourse,
resulting from the recommendation of such committee ; and from
the fullest consideration that he had been able to give to those
Bills, he was persuaded of the advantage they were calculated to
produce to the country.
Mr. Davenport, Sir W. De Crespigny, and Sir M. W. Ridley,
opposed the bill, as being ruinous to ourcomuicrcial and shipping
nation.

The question for the Speaker leaving the chair was then put
and carried, and the House went into a committee. Several
verbal amendments were put and agreed to. The House re-
sumed and the report was ordered to be received on Wednesday
next. The other orders of the day were then disposed of.
lr answer to a question from Mr. Hume, the Marquis of
Londonderry add that he would on Friday meat move an ad-
journment for the holydays, front that day until the following
Thursday.—The house adjuurned at one o'clock.

ltik:-.U•Y• MAY 21.
On the motion of air Calvert, the Bakers' Regulations'
Bill Report was ordered to be takeu into further considera-
tion the Ist JUlle.
Mr. CALVERT presented a petition from St. Saviour's
Southwark, ugannt the lion Coffins Bill, as their parish
was populous and their church-yard small.
Mr. DEN ;SON withdrew fur his hun. friend (Mr. Salirs)
the notice of motion respecting the repeal of thr tax on Oki-
low. lie expressed a hope that the measures of the noble
Nlaiquis would render the renewal of such a motion quite

unnecessary.
Sir R. FERGUSON postponed his motion respecting the
Scotch Postmaster General, Irmo May RS to June 4.
Ps Bikini against the Poor Removal Bill was presented
from Pancras, Leicester.
A petition from the manufacturers of Wiltshire and So.
mersebbire, agaiest the alteration of the woollen trade laws
wa. presented.
Petitions against the New Corn Trade Regulations Bill
were presented from Glasgow, Swore, Surrey, Suffolk,
Bambury, &c.
Mr. CURTEIS moved for returns of the persons receiving
poor relief from Mayfield, arid three oilier parishes in
StliiSCl, &c.
A petition from the hop growers of Rye, &c. against the
act in 18,12, was presented.
Sir J. NEW PORT ',resented the first report of the
committee oil the graud jury presentmeuts, Ireland. Ordered
to be printed.
Sir T. LETH BRIDGE- presented a petition from corn
growers of Dorsetshire, against the resolutions for the pro-
posed regulation of the corn trade.
Sir T. LLTII BRIDGE postponed from the 30th inst. to
June 5, his motion respccitug the pressure of Imitation on
egg-tertian e ; Ins object bin, to call the attention of the House
its those taxes that more immediately affected the ioteresto
of agriculture.
Mr. W. S a lilt presented a petition from the Unitarian
Christians of Liverpool, complaining of parts of the marriage
cere 11111 l ry to which they were bohjected.
Mr. G. IIENNET withdrew his notice of motion respect-
lug tire priming of certain parts of the evidence taken
before the coimnittee on Opthalmii, the lion. member being
outlet stood to state that an umingement bud taken place
which would render such motion unnecessary.
Mr. B. WI LBR HA NI mused fur an account of the es-
peurtiture and receipts of the post-otfice packets on the
Dover station from 18U, including the espense of building
steam vessels.
Mr. BU fTERWORTH seconded the motion.
Sir I. COFFIN said, that the satire fate awaited Dover
that had befallen Margate ; the Beam-packets must super-
sede the use of tire common vessels : their safety and
advantage were beyond all praise. They must soon be
adopted every where, from one end of the country to the
other. lie knew Dover well; an immense deal of swind-
ling used to take place there amongst the boatmen; now
those impositions would be matetially checked.
Mr. GLADSTONE said the number of passengers
ought to be limited, or the steam packets ought
compelled to have boats as in the case of Scotland.
Account ordered.