The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-09 00:00:00

lIIPILIIJAL P.

'• •

HOUSE OF LORDS.

SATURDAY, JAN. 31.
The Royal Assent was given, by COl4Millfioll, to sb. Bill
for the rep♦al of the Act of last Sesshm,feotillei al► Act for
the repeal of the Habeas Corpus Att. The c sertnindoners
were, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Sbaltsbary, and Leal
bielville.
MCIIIO.IIY, Fill. 2.
CLERK OP PARLIAMENT. . .
Eva GROSVENOR, referring to the office of Clerk of Podia-.
snrut, observed that nothing more strikiugly showed the im-
propriety of granting offices in reversion than what bad oc-
curred in this case. lie was persuaded, that the gerrtleasan
who lately held the office of Clerk of Parliament would never
Isaac asked the reversion for his son, could he have foreseen
that that son would have filled the situation of Ambassador to
n Foreign Court at the time that the duties of his office as
'erk of Pa. liament required his presence intliat House. It
was his intention to propose the abolition of the practice of
granting places in reversion, and that the abolition should be
extended not only to grants from the Crown, but to those
made by Judgos, and indeed to grants in reversion of every
riescription connected with the public service or the tondo-
t ;nos of the county. In the mean time he moved an Address
to the Prince Regent, praying ;Vat lie would order to be laid
lwfure the House an account of all grants in reversion of
others held immediately front the Crown, and also grants
in reversion ()loftier public offices.
The Earl of LIVER rum. objected to the general nature of
the inotioo. It' the Noble Earl confined it to those offices
held under the Crown, lie should be rya& agree to it.
The Lord Crusher:LA.(7n thought the Noble Earl 'night di-
vide motion, it' he continued of opimion that he ought to
cull for information as to both species of offices. For his own
paid he should be very well pleased to see a statement of all
grants in reversion laid before their Lordships,and probably
should hims. if shape a motion calculated to attain that ob-
ject. His opinion with regard to offices granted by the
Judges as lie lead already bitiinated, remained unaltered.—
Many offices formerly bestowed by the Chancellor were now
in the gift of the Crown ; but with regard to the Judges in the
other Courts, the power of giving those offices was necessary,
as a part of their emoluments arose from those gifts. Were it
not for this, the incomes of the Judges would be totally in-
adequate to the laborious and important duties they had to
perform. When the subject was last before the House, he
had convinced their Lordships of the utility of the offices in
the gilt of the Judges, as well as ot others of a similar nature;
and he had no doom he should be equally successful when the
question came again before them. He had, however, no ob-
ject' to ao account of all grant* in ion by the Crown
bring laid before their Lordships; and when it was pro-
duced, he should perhaps think it right to call for an account
of all landed property, held in virtue of grants from the Crown,
previously to the act passed respecting the grants.
Earl Onosvenoe said, that all that bad occurred since the
subject was last discussed had only tended to fortify him In
his opinion, that nothing could be more injurious to the in-
terests of Ike public than granting offices in reversion. In
saying this he by no means meant to suggest, that lee thought
the Noble and Learned Lord, or any of the Judges, were
overpaid for their services. What he objected to was not
the amount of their ensolements, but the mode in which they
were obtained. With regard to the motion, we understood
the Noble Earl to intimate his readiness to divide it. and to
press, for the present only, the tint part relative to grants
Irons the Crown.
The motion thus altered, was put end agreed to.

PAPERS ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
Lord SIDMOUTIK i■ compliance with the commands of the
Prince Regent. laid before their Lordships certain papers
elative to the state of the ceentry.—Adjourned.

Tussaaar.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS.

The Earl of LaUDIRDALS moved for various account' re•
Wive to the National Debt.
CASH PAYMENTS AT THE BANK.
Lord Kinn had heard lately, that the supposed intention at
the Bank, to defer their payments in specie, was attempted
So be justified or defended by arguments which be could by.
so means comprehend. What was be to think, or what was
any man to understand, by the plea set up that a negociated
loan in a foreign country, in France, was a sufficient cause
for saspeading the promised payments in cash by the Bank
of Liaised? Public credit, and comniercialas well as national
prosperity, must languish, as long as the natural and substan-
tial currency was obstructed or suspended, and there could
no security or stability in the country while any suspicion
remained that Government was unable to pay its debts.
The Earl of Ltionsmot said, it was his clear opinion that
the Bank ought to reeome its payments in cash as soon after
the retina of peace as possible ; but at the same time he had
felt, that from the peculiar nature of the ease, the moment
ed aid not be precisely ascertained. There might be circum-
stances in other countries which might operate to occasion a
temporary suspension of that desirable event; but there was
mothiog oa the part of Government, or on the part of the Bank
itself, to' defer the resumption of payments in cash.
The Earl of LAUDERDALS observed that the plain English
of all this was, that this most important question relating to
the interest and prosperity of this country, depended not on
the Parliament of England, but on the Parliament of France.
July neat had been talked of as a probable time for the re_
appearance of rook currency, but was the Noble Earl sure
that some other loan, a loan for Russia, for instance, might
ant intervene as tare-wally as the Lean for France, to defeat
;t retract the common wish of Government and of the
ap

STATE OF 'FHL COUNTRY.

The Order of the Day being read for entering on the con-
sideration of the Papers relative to the internal State of the
Country, which had last night been delivered, sealed up by
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to the
Clerk.
Lord Sinuous"' moved that they be referred to a Commit-
tea of Secrecy.
The Marquis of Lassuowse believed it was customary is
seeasioua lilts the present, that a motion like that of the
Noble Secretary of stair should be Litt odeced by an express
Manage front the Crows.
Visootoit SIDMOUTH said, that the Noble Marquis **old
end, that Committees of Secrecy were appointed set only in
eousequerce of Messages from the Crown, butt the Fiume of
(.wens. 'ller,proctice of their Lord hips' Hasse requirad"
stn other form that" that of a Massage from the Throne, ra.
marauding the taking of a measure or measures law their

N NATAL
temenees
coasideration, in nubs, to laigleil',,Ciisniuse for examining
the Unto.
The Earl of CARtIATON was anxious that their Lordships
should not legislate as if they were goaded bs the rigid spur
of necessity k but direct their Committee to inquire what use
bad been made of that high sad most peritons authority ors
which Idinissers bad been permitted to stand, connecting it
with that responsibility which they owed to the country. It
was Incumbent upon their Lordships to do something more
time abide by the diets of Ministers, is the shape of Reports
cot op under their instruction, and from no better soarer.--
Attu *lithe Reports. was there sot niftiest reason So be.
hove, that she late distathanees hat been thrummed if not
originated, by the agents of Ministers, and might be traced
to the odice of the Noble Viscount (flidosontb) himself/
(Hear, tient 1)
The Earl of LIVERPOOL was far from meaning to trouble
their Lordships at any length. The ordy and simple question
for their Lordships at present to consider was, whether they
would adopt the motion of Isis Noble Priend (Sidon:intl.) by
following the immemorial and invariable practice of their
Lordships' House. In ail cases were a Message had been
communicated with the seal of s dice upon it, a Secret Com-
mittee was appointed to consider it. The form of proceeding
was peculiar to their Lordships' House; it hod beet', without
any eseeption, their practice in so instance to delegate to
their Committees the power of sending for persons, records,
and papers. With respect to late events, he could consis•
tesitly say,and this he would say, that If the Noble Lord sup-
posed that the result of some late trials went to contradict the
subStsitee of the reports of last year, that result had gone
completely to con6na them.--(H-ear,bear !) Fifty bills load
been (mood against the accused men; and thirty-six had been
pat upon their trial, who were either found guilty, or had
pleaded for mercy. Much important information had been
received on the state of the country, since the last report, and
the only fair question was whether their Lordships would re-
fer it to a Committee. as was agreed upon then. This was
**questionably the only course to be recommended to their
Lordships, as conformable with the practice of Parliament at
every stage. Their Lordships then adjourned to Thursday.

s,,

‘`.

THURSDAY.
TOP. SECRET COMMITTEE.

A Committee to consider and report on the Paper relative to the
State of the Country, which had been laid en the eable by the Prince
Resent's command, was then balloted foe and consisted of the fol•
lowing Peers Lord Chancellor, The Earl of Harrowby. The
Duke of Montrose (as Earl Graham), The Earl of Liverpool Mar-
quis Camden. Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Pitswilliatn. Earl of
Pools. Viscount Sidusouth. Lord Grenville, Lord Redesdale.
Earl GROSVENOR after deprecating in strong MM., the proposed
plan of proceeding. moved, that the Secret Committee be empowered
to call for and examine perms, papers, and records.
The Earl of Livzaroot. contended that such powers were never
granted to Committes appointed on similar occasions.
The motion was negatived.—Adjourned.

FRIDAY.
In the morning. Counsel were heard on appeals, for the first that
this season. Adjourned to Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

SATUNDA It JAN. 31.
There was sobasioess of importance this day.

Monntv.
There being osdy S 5 members preterit at 4 o'clock, there
was no House.—Adjourned.
TUESDAY.
CONVEYANCERS.
- - -

Mr. Sw*es presented a Petition from several Attorneys
and Solicitors, complaining that a vast number of persons,
wholly unqualified, as to education or regular professional
instrnetion, were practising as conveyancers ; and they prayed
the House to take into consideration the laws affecting than,
inerder to some legislative enactments which may check the
abuse complained of.—Tbe Petition was read and ordered to
he on the Table.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Lord Carrenneaen said, if the House were not unwilling,
he should have no objection to go on with the motion respect.
ing the revival of the Finance Committee, which stood for
yesterday. In calling the attention of the House to this sub-
ject, be trusted they would feel that whatever difference of
*patios might have existed epos any particular measures
proposed by the Committee of Income and Expenditure last
year, no Committee could have executed the trust reposed in
them by the House, with move industry and more fidelity.—
After recapitulating the labors of the Committee, the Noble
Lord concluded by moving, that a Committee be appointed
to inquire into the Income and Expenditure of the United
Kingdom of Gieat Britain and Ireland, for the year ending
the Sth of.lanuary„ 1817; and also to state the probable in.
come aad expenditure for the years 1818 and 1819, so far as
they could be estimated; and to consider of what means might
►e devised for the reliefof the country, without detriment to
the public interest.
The motion being agreed to, his Lordship proposed the
same Members who constituted the Finance Committee last
year, to which the House assented.