The National Register.
London, England, 1819-05-24 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY, WAY 19.

The Royal Assent was given by commission to the Clai-ns on
France DLL Alkali Duties, Qaarter S2ssions Division, Carnatic
Ccnimissioners, tour Divorce Biils, sat a number of Private and
Local Bills, in all 69. The Coininissioners were, the Lord
Chancellor, Lord Me and the Earl of Shaftesbury.
The Chimney Sweeper.; Regulation Bill was reported, and
ordered to be read a third time on Monday.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE adverted to what he considered
a misstatement in tte Bank Report. It went to make gold
appear at less price than it retiliy was. lle contended, that the
circumstance proved how necessary it was to inquire into the state
of the metallic curterey.
The Earl of WESTMORLAND said, he was not prepared to
give the Noble Earl exp:anttion on this subject, but intimated
that he would mention it to his colleagues.
The Home ad;mumed to Friday.
vitinAY. KAY 21.
- - -

The Earl of had a Petition to present,
signed by four or :ive hundred Merchants, Bankers, and respect-
able Trade's in the City a London, comr,laining of a Plan,
which they said was about to be intinced for the injury of the
country. The Petition was Wen read. The pedtioaers stated,
that the proposed plan would reduce the value of land, to well as
other property, injure trade and commerce, and withdraw a
great proportion of emolinuent derived from industry. They,
therefore, prayed that the restriction on Bank payments in cash
might be extended to a period which will not embrace so niuch
inconvenience.

The Earl or LAUDERDALE said, he was informed that a com-
munication had been made by the Direc'ors of the Bank of
England to the Voile Lord at the head of the Government, ex-
pressing their opinion upon the plan to be brought before Parlia-
ment. He wished to ask if any communication had been made,
and whether any explanation could be given to Parliament ?
The Earl of I.tvf:tt POOL said. it was true the communication
alluded to had beat made. Tins morning two persona at the
head of the Direetion of the Bank put into his hand the send.
mores of the Court of Directors upon the plan then before the
Howe. This was given to Lon' Liverpool to be laid before
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent by the Ministers. The
Noble Eail asked if they might be permitted to lay it before
Parliament ? They said they had no wish it should. Lord
Liverpool told them, if any question was. put to him upon the
said communication, he should not fed justified in withholding
the contents of it from Parliament.

The document, after some further observations, was read. The
Bank Directors, in a very lung statement, communicated that
they had taken Mto consideration the Report of the Committee ua
Dank Af airs. and had thou4ht it their duty to iay before his
alajesty's Ministers their sentiments for the information of Pnr-
Lament. In the first instance, they considered it impracticable
to return to Cash Payments at the unie stated in the plum. There
ass no prospect of advantage under the proposed plan. The
Directors or the Bank would be the hut persons to object to
retuin kb Cash Payments on their own account, but they had to
advozate the interests of the Public at large. On the whole, they
endeavoured to impress upon hit Majesty's Ministers that a re-
turn to Cash Payments at any given time would be injurious to
the Public.

The Petition and the Paper List read were then laid on the
table. _ _

The Earl of BULKELEY, seeing the Noble Secretary of State
for the Home Department in hia place, was des' -otis of asking
the Noble Lord whether the scandalous scene, which occurred
some time since, namely, the contest between the Sheriff and
Police Officer, for money belonging to a convict in a Court of
Justice, had been brought under his observation. It appeared to
him (Lord Bulkeley) to be a transaction disgraceful to a Court of
Justice, whoever had a eght to the property.
Lord Viscount SIDMOUTIL said, in answer to the question put
by the Noble Lord, that he had no information whatever on the
subject b.it that winch he had derived from common report.—He
has tw•Livell no rc,iresentation to which he amid direct his atten-
tion, consequently was unable to give any essianation.
liax Re PO FaT.—Trie Earl of 11 AlittOWß Y then rose upon
tle Order of the My, to consider the Report made by the Colt-
tnittec ca the Affaited the Bank. The Noble Earl, after stating

MAY C 4.

- - the eiriety of opinions which prevailed on the itsportant question
res?ecting the Itink Restriction, cxpressed his own persuasion
that it would be unwise and injurious to the Public to rush sud-
denly, as it were. to cash payments. He suggested adhereess to
the recommendation contained in the Report insie by the Corn.

by tau. at-
mittee, observing that gold at the time mentioned fur payment in
specie might be broto;lit to the mint price, and the Bank would
teen open its payments without risk. The Noble Earl coiiclu-
ded by rooting the Resolutions, in substance that there had been
an over issue of paper, which made it impossible the the Bank to
resume Cash Payments. It woo therefore nece.sary to contract
these issues, sod regulate the issue of gold to enable Bank to
resume Cash Payments at A definite period.
The Earl Of LAUDERDALE expressed an opposite opinion,
and contended that the embarrassment in which the country was
placed did not proceed from an over issue of notes of the Bank of
England. The Noble Earl moved a string of seven counter Re
solutions, proving that the exchange had been favourable to the
°mum), during the greatest issues of Bank notes, consequently it
slid nut appeal that the issue of paper had occasioned a rise of the
price of bullion. The Bank co•l'd not safely return to cash
payments until the price of the two metals was regulased, dad
both made...Taal. The alteration of the Nlinteirculation. was the
primary step to restoring the coin to a salutary state.
Earl GREY urged OM necessity of putting off the discussion to
'Tuesday seri:tight. to enable the House to forma better opinion
upon the subject.
The Earl of RosssYsr was also an advocate for further time.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL intimated that much inconvenience
had already been felt in consequenca of cusp:llse a ith respect
to the question. He therefore pressed the Rouse to proceed, and
entered upon a statement of the principles on which the Commit •
tee had formed their Report. There a ere three questions t—TIK•
The first ass. whether it 1133 expedient that this country shrink
return to some fixed standard of value with respect to the etreula.
tam ? The next was, whether it was a practienble expedient for
the country to return to the ancient standard i' The third wilt,
what were the best means of eeceting that standard ? The Noble
Earl argued all fie above points with great ability, and ulti-
mately drew a conclusion that the House ought to adopt the
Resolutions.

Lord Grenville sr.tl the Marquis of Lansdo•Rn spoke at con,i.
derable length in fairoor of the question.
The resolutions pro,o,eil by t.ic Earl of Lauderdale were then
negat ved without a div'sion; and the original resolutions were
carried with only two or three dissentient voices.
Adjourned at two o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MONDAY, MAY 17.•

LONDON GAS LIOILT BILL.—Mr. P. AfoORE moved that'
the London Gas Light Bill be read a third time and passed,
On which the House divided.—The numbeis were—Ayes 531.
—Nues 51.—N1,:jority against the Bill 103.
STATE OF 'THE NAT 10N..-Sir J. SEIMIGAT Stlgge,it,d
whether his Hight lion. Friend would tot do well to pastricr.e
his motion, fixed for to-tnorrow, till after the Repurt on the Bank
Secret Committee bad been disposed of.
Mr. 'lf SEWN EY said, he multi not postpone his motion; brrig
it on he must ; he must do his duty to his country. lie did n•x
want to forestall the Bank question ; he should express no op.,
wan on that subject; and to postpone it till after the other qms-
bon wA. disposed of, would be in fact to abandon it.
Mr. BEN xtITT presented a Petition from a Post-Captain
lianchett, complaining of Mr. Lushington (M P. fur Canter-
bury), that he abu ed the powers of his office, mit:applied the
public money, and made appointments to preserve political inhlu•
ence. in this spirit the Petitioner WAS removal, and auotiier
person appointed is his stead
Mr. LUSHINOTON said, the only blame that lie felt attached
to the cause was, that the Officer had not been dismissed before ;.
and stated that the officer, applied to dispose of his place, de-
siring that it be " under the rose," and that above all, it slimid
not be made known to Mr. Lushington. The ground on which
the officer had been dismissed was, that he had endeavoured to
sell his appoiatinint.
Mr. LIEN N F:T T moved that tite Petition do lie upon the table.
Mr. Lustirrincoa observed, that he thought this motion
could mot he agreed to.
Atter remark from Mr. N. Calvert, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Mr. Lushington, &c. the motion sets agreed to.
BA RNSTAPLE.—TIie Report of the Barnstaple bill was
brought up.
:air H. WILSON moved, that the Report be re-considered this
day six month..

After remarks from Mr. Wynn, Sir J. Newport, Mr. Waith-
mar,, Allmoart Woo 1, &c. the House divided—Fur the amend.
mem, 12—Against it, 110—Majority against it, 98.
Mr. V. BLAKE ilrOpOtted to extend the right of voting to " in •
habitant householders" instead of •• frechoiders."

Amendment negatived, and the bill ordered to be read a third
time to-morrow.

LICENSED VicTum.t.tas-I%fr. BENNETT said that ot.
accouid of the lateness of the hour. and understanding that the
measure was likely to experience conielerahle opposition, he
should move that the Licensed Victuallers' Bill be read a seamd
time on Friday next; and he WAS the more anxious to press this
postponement as the Bill was of great importance, and as there
ought to be opportunity for its full eLimussion. (Hear.)
bill accordingly ordered to be read on Friday next ; after which
the House adjourned.

TUEADAY. MAY 18.
Mr. EI.T.tSON presented a Petition front tradesmen of Lincoln
against the renewal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act. Read and
ordered to lie on the table.

GAOL DELIVERIEIL—Mr. WESTERN gave notice, that on
Thursday, the 27th inst. he should bring forward his motion for
a more frequent Gaol Delivery : he should proceed either by an
Address to the Crown, or by moving for a Select Committee.
Mr. DENMAN presented a Petition from solicitors at Notting-
ham and the County of Nottingham, complaining of the facility
with which persons could be qualified to practise as Convey-
ancers; and praying that the House would adopt measures to
remedy the same. Head, and ordered to lie on the table.
LONDON CLERGY DlLL—Sir.{. GRAHAM moved that cer-
tain Property Tax Returns, regarding the City, be referred to the
London Clergy Bill Committee.
Alderman Woo° mid, this was a most extraordinary proceed-
ing, returns which had hem produced having been got from the
Property Tax papers—papers which the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had assured OW !louse were destroyed. The returns.
made more tl:an seven years ago, were most fallacious; and he
trusted the House would resist this application. (Hear.)

Mr. CALVERT coincided in opinion with Alderman Wood.
Sir J. NEWPORT, without touching the question, whether the
Clergy ought to have additional remuneration. protested against
this use of papers in question, the understanding being that all
such papers should be destroyed.
Sir J. GRAHAM thought there was some misunderstanding on
this subject. He believed that such papers only had been de-
suoyed as affected mercantile proScs, not real property ; imd he
thought such papers only had been destroyed.
Sir NI. W. ttsneer up, oiled to the House whethu the pleige
of (;overnment had not been given that all the pcevs con-
nected with the property tax should be destroyed ; (Hear. hear :1
and he trusted that the House would unanimously re:ieot the

_ ---......."

MAY 24.

proposition to make wee of these papers. which had unknowingly
bound their way to the table. It was either great neglect, or a
gross breach of faith. nit to have destroyed those papers.
Alderman WAITIIIIAN complained of this breach of faith
with the public, and protested against the proposal use of the
returns. They were moat fallacious documents to proceed upon.
for property in the City of London had since depreciated on.:
third, tit some instances one half.

Sir J. GRAHAM then begged to withdraw his motion, which
IMF agreed to.
Lord Camden's Sinecure-profits' Appropriation, was brought
an by the thencellor of the Exchequer. Read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time on Friday next.
STATE OF TilE NATION.-Mr. Treater then rose to
brityt forward his promised motion, for a Committee to en -
guise into Cie State of the Nation. He must own that he
could not comprehend Low any act of men could be circum-
stanced so as to be less envied than the Ministers opposite ; none
had more patiently borne such treatment ; and if at were a mere
party object to triumph, they had only to let the Gentlemen op-
posite alone till the end tlf the Session. ho set of Ministets had
ever stood lower in the public estimation. Their car.ly vigour
was their vigorous adherence to office. But he sought for no
patty ttiumpli. Ile desired that they should do their duty to
the people; that if lie made out that the Nation was in a state
of peril and difficulty, they would interpose between a weak
Administration and a tottering Country. That wac the best duty
which an honest !Jowl e of Commons could perform ; and he
was glad to say that the present House contained more Ktmbers
who did not belong to any party, wl.o !wiled to mess es, nut to
*nen, and who, he trusted, would aid in trimming the balance this.
night, so as to justify the expectation of the Country. The
Country. Europe in fact, now appeared In profound peace; and
lie tnastcd it would long continue ; but England, like the Conti-
nental Towers. ought to be engaged in repairing those financial
oilapidations which the war had occasioned. Unfortunately,
however, they ditl rot behold the Ministers so occupied, at limit
with any efficiency. The Ministers might take credit to them.
selves for what had been done abroad ; but still, was it net a
state of great uncertainty. Five Powers now arranged Europe.
'there was an Holy Alliance, and he hoped it would he as rightly
used as it was piously wooded.—( H ear, hear, and a laugh.)—The
state of France, however, was most improving, more so than
would have been anticipated two years r.;-„o ; with a limited
Monarchy. and a Representative Government. With such
strength, it was desirable. that England should have equal
strength and promise. America, too, must be an object of
anxiety; and had two Englishmen been executed under diffesent
eirciunstances, it would not have been borne SO patiently. But
lie blamed not the nowloct of Ministers; they had acted with
proper caution; but England in showing that site was desirous of
eostunaing Pc-are, must prove that such desire did not originate
from the dread of War. —Wear, hear ft—England's strena,tb
must be manifest, or there was no security for the continuance
of Peace. This was not to be made by encouraging Armin, or
Military Asylums ; hut by a well manned Navy and a flourish-
ing Exchequer. With these advantages he would defy the
World ; ithout doors there was no security against new diffi-
ciiities.—(Hear, hear!)--.As a, our trade, it was worse than
.nothing ; sad as to Commercial Treaties, there were none that
merited the name. Spanish A merica presented an interesting spew-
tack, for who: could be a more affecting sight than to belied a
whole Continent contending for Eseedom ? Yet instead of keep-
ing this.-olvantage as a remedy for the distresses of our trade, the
Ministers had now a Bill on the table which was to exasperate
the whole Continent. it could have no other effect, and it was a
most disgraceful measure.—(Loud civeri-ag..) Then as our trade
%VW, worse than nothing, what were the prospects of the country ?
The financial schemes of the Ministers, if schemes they could be
called were as cheerless. Since they lost the Property tax they
had proceeded on no plan whatever, and they trusted to the
Chapter ef Accideuts. After they were defeated, then, what
could be expected of them, with a debt on their backs of
mo,noo,oaat ? Could they be expected to resign ? No, nobody
,expected that from them. (Much laughter.) But it was ex—
pcted that thee ssouhl produce some plan to enable them to go
on ; but none load they had since. Awl as to the reduction
cf the debt, how trifling was it ; 54110,9c01. in three years
of peace. The debt now was ita5,000,000/. When the facts
were an melancholy, and ke could prove fie facts, was it not
lime for the House to ant:dere ? Were they to let the Minis-
ters proceed mismanaging the Country's affairs, only because
they were not strong enough to propose such measures as would
be useful and efficie.t. (Hear). As it was, the dividends conld
not be paid without the assistance of the Bank ; h.. the Bank
withhold the .C 6,000.000 and the Chancellor of foe Exchequer
would as soon raise the dead as pay the dividends. The Bank.
ro doubt, would °antique to do as they had done before; but if
they should think themselves hardly dealt with, and it was said
they had such opinion, what was to prevent them from turning
reund upon the Government It was said that there was a loan
of 1:42.000,1ien ; and he had heard it rumoured that the interest
WAS to be paid by new taxes. He would not consent to raise one
halfpenny more; he would not further corrode and blister the
people with tax: titan, to support the scrambling systein of Minis—
ters. He theref we co:felon the House to interfere, for the pro-
-petty of the country was -unsafe ; and he hesitated not to say
that the object of the motior was to alter the present Adminis-
tration.—(Loud cheers.). Ile had not fished fir votes; he would
do nothing of the kind ; he frankly confessed that was the object
of his motion—( 'fear, hear !)—lle concluded with *roving, that
tit Ilouse resolve itself into a Committee to enquire into the State
of the Nation.

Lonl tnstr.s: nEanri replied to Mr. Tierneylwith considera-
ble warinth,inaintaining that the only object of the motion was
a. embarrass the Covernment and the 'louse, it being brought
forward on the eve of so importar.t a motion as that reganling the
Bunk. If the Right llonotable Mover really thought the Silo
vemtuent wasoninposed of sirli incompetent Mentlsdiss why had
lie slept un post, why bad lie not prociainnsl such opinion
hethre ? Much of the Sessicn had already elapsed, important
-enquiries hail proceeded, debates had ensued. but this opinion
tegarding the Ministers was stated Io sleep till they tycre just
about to proem( to so important a discussion as the one to
which he /it.d alluded. %1 lint other motive then, could have
proinoted such a motion at with a time, than what lie had pointed
out. The question if I-Iranr he would not touch now, but as
to the alleged disregard of :making commercial Treaties, Ito con-
tended that it would have been pitiful in this Country, when
maintaining such high objects, to have done more than had been
done.

'the motion V/ZlSsuprorud br Lords Clifton and John Rome%
Messrs. Lambe, Burdett. Dickenson, tee. &c. and opposed by
Mews. Martin, %Vtun. 3laberley, Rankes, ke. atter which
Mr. Ticrnty rcplitd at eatreme length, and the gallery was then
cleared fora division-,Ayes. 178.—Noes, 337.—Majority for
Ministers, 179. Adjourned at 2 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19.
The House was summoned to the House of Peers to hear
file Royal Assent given to sundry public and private Bills.—
See Lords.l
Mr. HALL, presented an Account of all Briefs issued from the
Cl.urch and Fire t:fl'.ce, for thc n. air of calamities by fire.
Mr. Lirryt.Eirox presented a Petition from Attorneys of
London and Wtstmir.ster, against improper persons acting as
Convey auccrs.—Read and ordered Italie on the table.