The National Register.
London, England, 1816-05-05 00:00:00

SUNDAY, MAY 6,181 G.

Our Sing, einultitution an %MU.

nent not stained with ingratitude fir a natural Ally ; and
even should in future times the overpowering three of
the neighbours of the virtuous and injured Saxon, com-
pel him to enter into a confederacy against us, the rupture
of the connection would leave Great Britain afflicted in
heat-t, but unimpaired in power.

IMPERIAL P.IRLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF LORDS, Mom DAT. Arm 2).

Lord Bi:vres (Earl of Strathmore, in Scotland atroduced
with the accuttomed formatitie+, sworn, and took WA seat. His
Lordship's supporters were, Lord+ Boston awl lireadalbane.
A statement of the additional annual charges of the Public
Debt for the last tell years, and also of the tiet produce of the
Public Revenue within a given period, sae presented by Mr.
Alcuck, from the Treasury, and ordered to lie on the table.
Lord NAPIEII presented a petition from the Royal Burch
of Selkirk against the Leather Tax ; of whieh town, he acintreil
their Lordships, whatever might lie thought of the inhabitants
out wearing shoes, the shoemakers were famous for making
very good shoe+ ! —Ordered to lie on the table.
The Earl of Livuoto DALE presented a petition from
E%q. a claimant of the Borthwiek peerage; pray-
ing (as we could collect) that he might be allowed to take up
the proceedings at the stage they were in at the period of his
father's (the late clitiunud) death. Referred to the Committee
of Privileges.

FRIDAY, MAT S.
THE STATUTE BOOK.

Earl STA/1110PN said, there was no subject of more trans-
eendant importauce than that he was about to snl 't to the
House. It was no less than the Statute Book itself, with all its
biconveniencirs. He stated the precedents of two former in-
stances. The one was the consolidation of the Revenue Penal
Laws by Lord Grensille, in 1809; and another similar instance
in the sed of the King. His proposition was, to purge the Sta-
tute Book generally, instead of doing it in a partial way. He
had moved, that the Judges should combine to one act all the
laws inflicting the punishment of the pillory, which Bill wan
now before the lionac. The Judges had stated the pillory to
be a punishment by Common as well as Statute Law. They
added, that these were all the Statutes inflicting that punish-
ment, which they knew of. This was a fair admission on their
part, and which called for an amendment of the Statute Book.
But they had omitted the second of Geo. 11. inflicting the pil-
lory for perjury or subornation of The list
Geo. 11. inflicted "
oath to administer s
reflect on any of the Judges; hot was it not a .
of the Statute Rook, when the Judges theinselva -eller sit
months, could not say that they had collected all the Acts in-
flicting the punishment of the pillory? It was not that alone;
the nucertainty of getting the first lawyers to agree on many
points of the greatest importance, was another enormous
pies:seer. He mentioned the information he had received
from the Lord Chief Baron Eyre ; and lie used to ask similar
questions of the other Judger, most of whom differed with
each other. This also chewed the necessity of purging the
Statute Rook. A lawyer now liven (Selby) had published a
work on Uses of Trusts anti Powers, which he had exemplified
by 11100 decided cases. On this account, the laws of England
required simplifying. Mr. Vince had published a little pocket
wutk, called an Abridgement of the Law, in 20 and odd vols.
La tblio. It' it bad been continued till now, it must have been
Lu 100 volumes. He (Lord S.) once had the better of laird
Thurlow on a question of Statute Law, which was a great fea-
ther in his cap. He went and sat on the woolsack with Lord
Thurlow, who said to him, " I should be ashamed of myself if
I had nut a knowledge of every poiut of the common law; but
I know nothing of your (using a word he could nut utter
there) ----Statute Book." Mr. Dunning never would give
an opinion as to what was law according to the Statutes. He
used to tell the people to bi 'tug hint the Statute, and be would
endeavour to expound it. After such authorities as these, the
words of the Scripture would apply to the Statute Book: " Hate
salt bath lost its savour, st hetes. ith shall it be salted." He chewed
the inaccuraey of Special Pleaders ; a friend of his had got a de-
'elaratiun drawu tip by one of the first men in his profession,
with a uurubei of counts, nut one of which was calculated to
nutiutaiu a verdict if his friend had got one. He (Lord S.)
went to the Special Pleader and pointed it out to him. He
agreed, and do ew up a new set of counts, which were us bad as
the others. At last he reduced them to two, and they were
sufficient. The inure they looked at the Statute Book, the more
they would find it slwilur to the A ugrau stable; and the more
they would find it required a similar remedy similarly applied.
Many laws, instead of being voluiniuues, should be wri'teu on
a card to fie in the palm of a man's baud. There had been
1174 Acts passed and repealed, IWO of which bad been repeal-
ed in the present reign ; so that they had passed Acts by wag-
gons-full to repeal them by cents-lull. it aas illegal for suy
woman to lease the country without a pernessiou signed by
six Privy Councillors ; and the reason was, because the woolen
were so impishly iuclimal. He praised the shortness of the
Code Napoleon, and which is continued Mader the Bourbons.
The Common Law of England Wits admirable also, as being a
collection: of principles, and was clearly and shortly expressed.
In MAK; of this, he instanced Nlagna Charts. Let them look.
he said, with horror at that which is now called the Statute
Book; and then let them turn with delight to that which KW
their Statute Book (Magna Charts). It had been said, the
Laws of England were open lo the poor as well as the rich;
but it had also been wed observed --•• ! and so is the Lon-
don Tay rii."—lts remedy was, to appoint ..essor, learn-
ed its the law; with 211 or At clerks, to real the Statute Bank
Oita OCCiIIIIAC, by doiog so they would find what had,
been repealed; and so el ass the Statutes under their propel
heads, capittee ateliers:4 instantaneous revision. He emichi
by moving, " That the house abould result Auto a ris•

Pares Sid.

Mittel' to Consider Of the hest means of arranging the Statute
1140 k under distinet and proper beads." After that he should
propose, by :1(1 of Parliament, that no Bill slnmld lie brought
In, rontaining any thing but what was in the title of it. This
would prevent the s!atitte Book from emer :gain getting into
ennen.inn ; for at pre4ent it was a public hotchpotch from be-
ginning to cud —a pert; et charm
The Lo nu Catmscrr.Loir confessed that a classification of
the statutes might do ,rime good ; and therefore lie slionht not
oppose the motion for going into a Omnitittee to consider the
hest means of making that classifiration. Bid ho moved an
Amendment, that a Select Committee ghoul l be appointed.
instead of a Committee of the whole Homo. ; which wis agreed
to, nem. di... after a few words from Lord Holland,

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MownaY, A PafL 29.
THANKS OF THE HOUSE 'IV LORD EDW. SOMERSFT,
Lord EDWARD SUM Esser appearing in his iilitce in full mil-
form, the SMAA La proceeded to address. hint as follows;--
" MAJOK-G ERAL LORD Euw. SOM ensrr,
" At length we are gratified by seeing amongst us one of
those distinguished Officers to whom this House has voted its
Thanks for their eminent services in the battle of Waterloo—
a victory eclipsing the tame of all other battles fought in those
celebrated tields of war, and consummating the glory of the
Duke of Wellington; with whose great name the gratitude of
this House has justly associated that of Fleld-Marshal Blucher.
" In the narrations of that gigantic conflict, our historians
will always relate, that Major-General Lord Edward Somerset,
already known by his brilliant services in the Southern Pro-
vinces of France, held a high and forward command in those
gallant charges by the British Cavalry, which defeated and
destroyed the boasted squadrons of Cuirassiers. They will re-
late also, that Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton, who had is
five former battles commanded divisions of that heroic army
which rescued Portugal and Spain, maintained a conspicuous
post in the support of the embattled line, where the British
Guards repelsed and put to flight the Imperial Ouards of
France. Nor will those other illustrious men be forgotten,
who might new have been standing up amongst us to receive
our Thanks, if the fate of war had not laid them low in their
grave of glory ; soldiers long dear to the affections and remem-
brance of their county, which will never cease to revere and
regret the veteran but ardent valour of Pieton, or the bright
and rising honours of Ponsonby.
" The days, indeed, of these our mingled triumphs and griefs
are now concluded. Other scenes have vistaed, and other
cases have arisen, to demand our vigilance. Front the
contest, however, now'
has - '

splendid examplei of 5...., valour, and constancy, as we
this day to commemorate, will deeply impress upon one eve.
mica and upon our Allies, in all ages, a just respect for the
councils and arms of this Empire.
" The special duty which I have this day to discharge is,
to deliver to you the Thanks of this House, for your last great
services. Awl Idu therefore now, in the name and by the
command of the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland ie
Parliament assembled, deliver to yea, Major-General Lord
Edward Somerset, their unanimous Thanks, for your indefati-
gable seal and exertions upon the 18th Jane, 1815 ; when tbd
French army, commanded by Bnonaparte, received • signal
and complete defeat.'—(Leed and cowliased cheers from every
pest of I Or Mum.)
Lord Euw. Sometime begged to express to the House thf
high sense he entertained of so distinguished a mark of their
approbation of his conduct in the memorable battle of Water.
luo. Thu House would naturally believe that the impression
made by so bouottrable a testimony to his tremble exertioneb
deprived him of words to express his foeliugs in adequate
terms.--(Hear, deer, /o**,4—Whatever might have been hie
merits iuthat great conflict, however, he begged to state, that
his success was mainly attributable to the brigade which the
Commander is Chief had thought proper to place under his
command, whose persevering valour and admirable discipliud
contributed so much to the emcees' of that important day ; ani-
mated as they were by the example of that mass under whore
they bad the humour to serve, and whose presence instilled but
one feeling in the breast of every individual In the British
army ; namely, the full and unehalen determination to bring
the battle to a successful issue..-(iiter, hear, door,)—lt having
been his lot to form a part of the army mu that day, and his
conduct having been deemed worthy of the notice of that
House, were eiretunstauces which would be remembered by
bins with pride and gratitude to the latest hour of his life.—
k flew, hear. I—He had now only further to express his aeknow.
ledgments fur the handsome manner its which the vets of the
Ileuse bad been counuauteated by Mr. Speaker.—(flele, Ater,

The CH C IiLLOR of the EICHEQUSR moved, that the speech
of Mr. Spealer, and that of Laid Edward Skumeraet, should be
eutered epuu the Juarual►..—Ordered.

WOOLLEN TRADE.
Mr. F. Lewis, Chairman of the Committee appointed to in.
quire into the state of the woollen trade, as connecte‘weity
the agricultural interest, rose, for the purpose of presetting to
the liouse the Report of the Committee. In doing I ns, he
begged to remark, that an alarm had been excited gMong the
inamitacturers of woollen cloth; and, in consequetke, many
petitions had been presented to the House, which were in earl
utterly unnecessary.. inasmuch as the fears entertained by the
petitioners were quite groundless. The Conwelatce had di.
reeled their inquii les to the price of woo/. &son 1780 down to
the latest period; and the result of their inquiries was, that for
the last ten
years the price of wool, so far from di creasing,
had increased. The Committee, therefore, had come to a re-
solutiouoliat no part of the distress at prese:4 pre•sin; on the
agricultural interests, was attributable to the importation „e
foreign wool, and that of consequence there was uu ut,corpity
for a prohibitory lior upon rho subAcci.

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NDAY, MAY 6, 1816. Pares Sid.
mitre.. to consider of the beet means of arranging the Statute'
with ingratitude fiir a natural Ally ; and, II
;vim; under distinet end proper beetle." After that he should
propose, by .Irt of Parliament, that no Bill +hotild lie brought future times the nverpowering force of
if the virtuove and injured Saxton, coin- in, containing any thing leo what was in the title of it. This
into a confederacy against us, the rupture
would prevent the statute Book from es er :gain getting into
entifiteion ; for at pre4ent it was a public hutch-potch from be- in would leuve Great Britain afflicted in ginning to curl—a pert; et chaos.
paired in power. The T..011D Cute ecreenti confessed that a classification of ,
the statutes might do come good ; and therefore be s + hould not ,
oppose the motion for going into a Censinittee to consider the
'ERIAL P.IRLIAMENT. best means of making that classification. But h.- moved an 1
Amendment, that a Select Committee ghoul f be appointed,
OF LORDS, MONDAY. AMT. rt.
-..-41.---
instead of a Committee of the whole MOM' ; which w is agreed i •
to, sem. dit. after a few worth from Lord Holland,
Irl of Strathmore, in Scotland uwa . introduced 4 '
; -
ed formalities, sworn, and took hie seat. His
tees were, Lords Boston mud Breadalleine. HOUSE OF COMMONS, lelowneY, APRIL 29. / . •
, the additional annual charges of the puirlic THANKS OF THE HOUSE Tm O LORD EDW. somurr.
en years, and alai or the Oct produre of the
Lord EDWARD SUMMER appearing in his phice in full uoi-
ithin a given period, wao preseuted by Mr.
form, the I.ItAIC La proceeded to addreeehini AA follows
freasury, and ordered to lie on the table.
" iIIAJ4II4-GENERAL LORD EDW. Soasensgy, presented a petition from the Royal Burgh
" At length we are gratified by seeing emingst us one of
the Leather Tax ; of which town, he assured it those distiuguisbed Officers to whom this llolese hes, voted its I 1
Thanks for their eminent service's in the battle of Aenterloo—
Meteyer might lie thought of the inhabitants
the shoenialere were famous for making
a victory eclipong the tame of all other battles fought in those
-Ordered to lie on the table.
UDtRDALE presented a petition from ---celebrated fields of war, and consummating the glory of the
Duke of Wellingtou ; with whose great name the gratitude of
tills, House has justly associated that of Field-Marshal Blucher.
i claimant of the Borthwiek peerage; pray.
In the narrations of that gigantic conflict, our historians
°fleet) that he might be allowed to take up
t the stage they were iii at the period of his ...
wilt always relate, that Major-General Lord Edward Somerset,
leiwante death. Referred to the Committee
already known by his brilliant services hi the Southern Pro-
FRIDAY, MAT S.
vinces of France, held a high and forward command in those i 1
gallant charges by the British Cavalry, which defeated and
THE STATUTE BOOK.
more t destroyed the boasted squadrone of Cuiraseiers. They will re-
said, there was no subject of rans- late stet), that LienteGeneral Sir Henry Clinton, who had is .
ce than that he was about to sill 't to the five former battles commanded divisions of that heroic army
less than the Statute Book itself, with all its , . which rescued Portugal and Spain, maintained a conspicuous
He stated the precedents of two former in- •
post in the support of the embattled line, where the British 'e.
was the consolidation of the Reveuue Penal Guards repnised and put to flight the Imperial Guards of
muffle, in 1809 ; and another similar instance
France. lor will those other Winn-ion, men be forgotten,
'dm:. His proposition was, to purge the Sta- who might new have been standing up amongst us to receive
ly, instead of doing it in a partial way. He
our Thanks, if the fate of war had not laid them low in their _
lie Judges should combine in one act all the
grave of glory; soldiers long dear to the affections and remem-
punishment of the pillory, which Bill was brance of their county. which will never cease to revere and
Dllie. The Judges had stated the pillory to
by Common as well as Statute Law. They regret the veteran but ardent valour of Piston, or the bright
were all t
This was a fair admission on their he Statutes inflicting that punish and rising honours of Ponsonby.
knew
" 'the days, indeed, of these our mingled triumphs and griefs
of.
are now concluded. Other scenes have opened, and other
tiled for an amendment of the Statute Book. cases have arisen, to demand our yigiiance. From the long
fled the second of Geo. 11. indicting the pil- •%. '', contest, however, now happily closed. this sharable advantage
or subornation of perjury. The 31st of has resulted to oar emus s-1114 bia *
the gsuaishment of death (or taking a (WIC *goal.. grthege lanits, VlESarriellh. ' -
to any seaman's will. He did not mem to
established the superiority or our national ; and .11,4 ,
splendid eramples of skill, valour, and constancy, as we have ••
) •
the Judges; lint was it not a condemnatin
enter when the Judges themselves, after its this day to commemorate, will deeply impress upon one eas-
t say that they had collected all the Acts in-
mies and upon our Allies, in all ages, a just respect for the
intent of the pillory? It was not that alone;
getting the first lawyers to agree on many councils and arms of this Empire.
ratest importance, was another enormous The special duty which I have this day to discharge is,
to deliver to you the Thanks of this House, for your last great
rat rationed the information he had received services. And Ido therefore now, in the name and by the
lief Baron Fvre , and tie met! to ask similar • - - --

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