The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-07 00:00:00

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authority could not be vested in fitter hoods, and
Ora the law, n 4 he propelled to have it amend-
ed, would volatile the Grand Juries to do their
business as they would wish it to be done,
without bring liable either to imposition, or a
want of proper information on the subject of
soy presentment that might le submitted to them.
So important situ this reformation iu the Grand
Jury sy.tein iii Ireland appear to him, that lie was
determined to persevere in calling the attention of
the House to the subject, nor would any considera.
tion deter him from following up the to itter. Ile
would, at bast, have the consolation of feeling that
he had performed his duty, and his, labours would
be abundantly repaid, if he found to the result
that he had raved a single peasant from the, expense
of an assessment which he ought not to have borne,
or protected the rights of the huinhlest individual
from the slightest invasion or oppression. Added
to this would be the valuable refection, that be had
tried to check a erste& of taking oaths, which was
most offensive to the hest interests of religion and
morality, and most dangerous to the community at
large.—/Hear, hear.)—Ple then concluded, by
moving for leave to bring in a Bill to provide fdr
the more deliberate iiiVestigation of Grand Jury
Presentments in Ireland, and for securing a better
account of the money applied for such works.
Sir GE.C.HCB I-lit.t rose to second this motion,
though lie was of opinion that some parts of the
proposed measure would require much consider-

51r. Dr.sts Bacitrtit did not rise to oppose the
motiou. Ile fully concurred io the opinion. that
if any part of the system of Giand Juries were found
injurious in its operation, the Legislature ought
immediately to apply a remedy to the evil. fie
could not, however, help observing, with reference
to the proposed Bill, that it did nut contain a single
principle which was not already provided fur by
the existing law. He saw no additional security
provided on the subject of the oath—it was already
publicly taken, and the alteration was only that
the party on whom it seemed no reliance was to be
placed. should undergo an examination on the
strength of that obligation, to which it appeared
he was indifferent. The Hon. Gentleman then
stated, that no modern alteration had taken place
in the mode of levy for these assessments. in the
county with which lie was more immediately con-
nected, no 'alteration in the imminent had taken
place since the time of Lord Strafford—the Grand
Juries were not chargeable with any defect in this
branch of the system. It should, besides, be kept
in recollection, that of the large amount said to be
levied by these bodies, a very considerable portion
went for unite different purposes than the build.
ing bridges or roads—it went to pay the local
establishments of the police and constables, to sup-
port the gaols. and !Jay the expense of carrying
sentences against prisoners into executionto sup-
port certain charities—in fact, there were a variety
of expenses of this kind, and to a very large amount,
which these assessments included.
Sir HORN l'aitisst.r. approved of the general
features of the Bill. though he certainly would
prefer it bith any provision for making another
effort to carry into Oactical execution the system
of county surveyors—(Hear./—Out of a list of 18
surveyors, three had only been found competent
before the Commissioners it candidates for these

offices. •nd nothing would be more 'unfair than to
suppose that. because no return of approbation was
made, no competent persons were to be found to
execute so important and necessary • duty. The
real fact was, that a most extensive weight was
imposed on the surveyors, • part of which might he
spared if a modified measure were considered ; by
the former provision they were not only called on to
estimate the expense, and superintend the exe.
cution, but also to examine into all the details
during the work. They might. under a modified
scale, be relieVed from a part of this duty, and yet
left with enough to perfortn for all public pur.
poses. Another alteration might be made in the
mode of managing the public expenditure ; this
should be done as touch as possible by contract fur
the works, and not by s daily superintendence of
the details. _ _ _

Mr. Peet confessed himself to have been friend-
ly to the appointment of county surveyors in the
drat instance, but experience and a more accurate
inquiry into the subject, had since wholly changed
that o; ' . It was ►wt fair to say that the n►ra;
sure was abandoned, ur.til after a full trial had been
made, without effect, to procure the surveyors in
the manner required by the Act. Independent of
this impracticability, he thought the office impo-
litic, for the county surveyor fit to hold it should
be a man of great local information in his vicinity ;
this must connect him with u number of persons in
the neighbourhood, who must necessarily be inte-
rested in d►fferent applications of the expenditure—
and the Masi who could resist ruch au influence
must be one of stricter integrity than in general tell
to the lot of person% called on to fill situations which
necessarily gave thrust control. No imputation
whatever could attach to the professional capacities
of the gentlemen examined before the Commis-
Moiler', some of whom were Men of tried experi-
ence, and who had been employed in respou•►ble
public wortit. Ile must certainly hoped that this
part of the ntein.ure, which had been fairly tried
and found impracticable, would Wit be re-intro.
duced.

Sir FIERILY PARNELL and Mr. Peel. Mutually
explained.
Mr. Illy rLER concurred in several of the obse►-
vations which had fallen from Iluu. Members un
this subject.
Mr. Wars BROWNE explained.
Mr. FitzutaALD stated, in reply, that out of
20,000/. its oi.e county which had been voted, unit
a shilling was fur a new work, but fur repairs. lie
regretted the impossibility of carrying into effect the
appuinFM•ttt of county surveyors, as he thought
they would be of rpsential use to the public interest.
lie concluded by stating the grolilicusion be felt
at huding the brief outline of his measure so well
received by the House.
Leave ass then given to bring iii the Bill.
EDUCATION OF THE POOH.

_ „..
11h. BIOVGHAII (%s we could collect) said, he
wished the Poor Education Rill should go through
int giViit Stag, to- row, ir it would suit the con-
veuience or the ISolile Lord opposite to have ►t un-
dergo a rfiscino.irni then.
Lord CAsiuttracit was ready to give Pvesy ac-
couttuotlxiou to the 1100. Metuber. Ile could

now flute, that lie liad a• objection to that clanse
in the Bill appointing.Couumasioners with a fixed
salary. •
Mr. BROUGHAM iv:o much surprised at what had
fallen from the Noble Lord. It was vain to expect
professional men, some of wh kkkk must be Iliclwle.l
in the conornituoirm, al Id labour without remune-
ration. The Bill did not go to smote the Cot 1111 l is-
sinners, but following the precedent of the Bills
appointing missions of iiiriniry into naval anti
nu litary accounts, left the nonnuatioto of them il.
the Clown.
Lord CASTLEREASTI wits ready to agree, that
professional men would not bestow their labour
gratuitously ; but lie was of °pia l i 111 l that instead
of nominating them with stated salaries, it should be
left to the discretion of the Crown to reward them,
front time to time, as their exertions would appear
to deserve.—(Hear.) -That would also be a cheek
against the Commissioners exceeding a reasonable
time in discharging the duties for which they had
beets created.—(Hear.)—ll. Ireland this principle
had been itcted on, where Commissioners for a anitlar
purpose had acted without any prefixed emolument,
but only • power reserved to the Crown of granting
orcisional rewards ; and he was of opinion, that the
individuals to be monied would not look tipou their
compensation as less grateful, because coming im-
mediately from the Crown, or from the understand-
ing that it must in all cases be canted by actual
service performed.
Mr. BROUGHAM seemed to be oaf opinion, that
■ limit should be put to the emoluments of the
Cononiiisionerv. He had understood that the CUM-.
inissioners of Naval and Military At counts had
had IR salary of 1,500/. a year. lie ti lit that too
much, and had intended to fix it at 1,000/. a year.
Mr. LESLIE FO‘TEtt, in 'rising to move for trace
to bring in the Bill of which ..he had given notice,
said, that the provisions of the Rill merely went to
extend to Ireland the law on the subject existing
in England; and it was allowed to be desirable to
assimilate the two laws as closely as could be done.
He would therefore move •' for leave to bring in •
Bill for the relief of persons in Ireland entitled to
entailed estate", to be purchased with trust monies."
The question was carried. and leave given.
POOR "LAWS AMENDMENT BILL.
The Order of the Dty was then read for the
further consideration of the Report of the Poor
Laws Amendment Bill.—The Report was read.
various amendments proposed, and read a first and
second tittte.—The Bill, with the amendments, or-
deredto be engrossed, and read the third time to..
irlorrow, if engrossed.
Lord CASTLEREAGR postponed the second read-
ing of the Alien Bill front Friday nett till Friday
se'nnight.
The SPEAKER observed, that, as so little private
business now remained to be transacted, no incon-
venience would arise front entering on public lousi-
ness at a quarter-past fOur o'clock.
On the lumina of the CRANCELLtIR of the tk-
CHEQUER, the Churches Building Bill was re-cont-
muted.

.....
In the Committee, rome verls.il anienilmentt
were made—the Howie returned—the Report was
brought up—the Bill, with the amendments, or-
dered to be engrossed, and read the third time to-
morrow, if engrossed.
Mr. W. Siena, in the absence of a friend, gave
notice on hits part. that he would tn-morrow slight
move for leave to bring in a Bill for the more ef-
fectually presenting frauds in the imports and ex-
ports of articles belungisig to the manufacture of
clocks and watches.