The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-10 00:00:00

41.0 t.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, THURqD tv, Juse 6.

Mr. CaLCIIAFT presented a petition from the electors of
Rochester, respecting the acceptance of the place of Treasurer
of Greenwich, Hospital by one of their representatives, Sir T.
R. Thompson. They considered it as an office of profit tinder
the crown, which rendered their Member's seat void ; and they
prayed for a new writ for that city. Mr. Calcraft said, he
wished on Wednesday to bring the subject to the question of
aye or no, and for that purpose on Wednesday he would move
for a new writ fur Itiwheiter, iu coasequence of the acceptance
of the office now held by Sir T. B. Thompson. The petition
was laid on the table.
Gen. Gascovsis asked whether the Chancellor of the F.x.
chequ•r had determined on what relief was to be afforded t•
Innkeepers respecting the Malt Duty allowance?
The CnAsicahtairt of the ExeitaQuErt replied, that the
business was uuw under the consideration of the Board of
Eacisc.
Sir 11. P trUsIELL brought forward a variety of resolutions
for the purpose of inducing the House to grant some minor
concessions to the Catholics, by admitting them to the subor-
dinate othees in the State, the Army and Navy, and in respect
to the mode of voting at election•, etc. IN the first resolution,
for permitting the undisturbed exercise of their religion in
their places of public worship,
Lord cA,TI EREAGII objected to the mknner in which the
subject was Ii: ought forward at this late period of the Session,
and under ciretunstances so very inimical to the cause of the
Catholic Petitioners, there not being any of the friends of the
Petitioners in the House, wild the exceptiiin of the Hon.
Baronet, and one or two other Members. He urged hint there-
thre, to delay the consideration to a more appropu late oPPor•
tunitv.--With this recommendation, Sir H. Parnell reluctantly
complied.
Mr. W. Smelln gave notice, that he should move for Seine
farther papers respecting Extents in Aid.—Adjourned at
Eleven o'clock.

FRIPAY, %E 7.
A new writ was ordered for Gatton, its the room of Sir
Cougreve, who hal aerepted theChiltern Hundreds.
Ou the second reading of the Silver Console! Bill.
Lord A. lismtt.Tos thought, that,esery person holding old
coin should be entitled to receive the new coin for it at their
own doors, and without loss. As the Bill now stood, the public
would be consider..liie losers.
Mr. ROOK was ready to confess that considerable loss would
kJ es atlas. sem/was ill ablt to the low; but was
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.aa evil which must occur some time or other. If !h.: measure
recommended by the Noble Lord were adopted, it would set
the COITICrti to work immediately with the greatest alacrity. and
enormous quantities of imperfect Silver Coinage woidd be
poured in upon the Mint.
Mr. F. LLw is strongly recommended a coinage of gold 20s.
piece•.
Csacsrsti. contended, that the Bank must be very
cou•ulerable losers on the Bank to ens, whenever they were
called in. When the Ss. tokens were originally issued they
!acre worth s. 104. lutrinsiotlly. At present they were in-
trinsically worth only 2s. td. therefore it they now paid Ss. for
them, they would sustain a hose of rid. upon each Ss. token.
The Hon. Member was in favour of an iiisne of 20s. gold coin.

Mr. W. rote did not consider the present as the time for
rliScusmang the detail of the Bill. that would be best done in the
Committee ; now was the time for arguing the principle of the
measure ; and to that there seemed to b•' no objection. He
had before stated, and he would now repeat the measures pro-
posed to be adopted. It was calculated that in Fever) months
the Mint would have two millions and a halt• ready t 3 deliver.
That on the same day there would be a large supply lodged in
every town in every part of the country; and at the same time
• person would be sent to each town by the 31a-Ater of the Mint,
to distinguish what Has, and what was not, the coin of the
realm and these persons would have directions in all doubtful
CAS's to give the bentrit to the individual. With respect to the in-
convenience likely to arise on the present occasion, he had con-
siderable pleasure in swim:, that owing to the assistance given
on this OCCASiOII by the Bank of England; that inconvenience
was much less than he hod anticipated. With respect to the
issue of the• new coinage, a plan was in contemplation, and in-
deed a great progress had been made in it, by which plan no
person would have more than 1.-1 miles to go to chance his old
coin Mr new. With respect to wh it would become of the Bank
tokens, lie was of opinion they would soon be refused, and re-
turned to the Bank, when this new and excellent coinage
should make its appearance. In seven months he thought
there would be ready for delivery 37 millions of shillings, and
23 mations of sixpences; and these being issaed, the Mint
Would then go to work quickly to supply any deficiency which
might arise from the Bank tokens being withdrawn. With
resliect to the issue of vos. gold pieces, he had given it his
consideration, and was of opinion it was a proposition winch
might tre adopted with considerable advantage to the public,
especially in any future measure which might be adopted
Win never the restrictions should cease; namely, the equallizing
the coins of Great Britain and Ireland. IVith regard to alter-
ing the standard of silver, as silver was ❑o ►unger to be the
legal sue, dart', or beyond .21. a legal tender, no evil could arise
from that ,avastire. As the general principle was not objected
to, :t would not now be necessary for him to enter wore at
lengtii into the oir,ect.
CROKLe. 'aa..• ill favour of making the guinea twenty
srhilimgs.

%RING h:L;hly approved of coining 20g. pieceg.
The 4.111 was then read a becond time, and cumulated fur

Tae AITORNIEV-GENFRAL gave notice of a Bill for Monday
to remedy the inconvenience and danger arising from the
negligent driving of Stage Coach' s. lie proposed, in his Bill,
to allow Magistrates to iallict corporal punishment on
"wilful and negligent driving, in lieu of the penalty of 101.
%inch the present law imposes.
The loose went into a Committee of Supply.
MI. BANaks rose to move for the giant of a certain sum for
the put chase of the Elgin Marules. The Him. Gentleman
made u variety of observations on the present state of the
country, and is means of purchasing monuments of art. He
instanced the liberality of Parliament, who were not moonlit.
tut id' oationa! glory, iu granting large sums for the erection of
otnts to commemorate the vietoi ies of Waterloo and
Trafalgar. But where questions of bargain and sale C4IIIC
under the view of Parliament, however desirable it might be
to pure Huse splendid relics of the grandeur and sublimity of
former ages, when the genius of the sculptor became the ob-
ject of a country's attention, it became the Government to be
cautious that they did not overstep the bounds of prudence.
With this view he should propose to grant a sum which; in his
opiuion, would be a compensation to Lord Elgin, taking at the
same time Imo consideration the means by which his Lordship
became posy, ssed of these marbles, and that, in fact, he ac-
Gsin diem in his character of Ambassador. '!'he Hon.
entirman here pronounced a panegyric on the arts, and the
wecessity for encouraging their cultivation, as being the first
„means of a country rising to eminence and splendour. Ile
referred to history to show that the greatest Generals and
tiltatcs•Len were produced in those Slates which encouraged
the Ails and Sciences. The Hon. Gentleman then entered
into a detail of the manner in which Lord Elgin obtained pos
session of these relics; and the evidence before the Committee
.Mewed, that not only the Athenians,lnit the modern Greeks,
did not object to the gratification of the curiosity of the Bri-
ts!' Traveller. This was a proof dot no spoliation had taken
place, as in the case of the 1- rciich Visitors. He combated the
opinion* of some Gentlemen, vilio thought that these treasures
of Art ought to be restored. Having contended at sonic length
for the necessily of retaining these marbles, lie concluded with
asieving,..—" That a HIM, not exceeding 31,04101. be granted to
Lis Majesty for the purchase of the Elgin Marbles."
Mr.Cenwrsi opposed the motion, on the ground that this
was not the time to make the purchase. Admitting that the
suommients were those of great art, and lamenting that the ori-
ginal possessors were not aware of their value ; but, as one of
the public, whodethe Hou. Gent. described as anxious for these
relies, he must declare I.e had no claim upon them. lie de •
aired nut, in the impoverished state of the country, to possess
them at such a price as was now proposed to be given. If the
country was enabled to purchase, lie should not be disposed to
/haggle at the price; but he vvonld ask, was this the time to
make pnrchases for the benefit of the few at the cost of the
(liar, hear.)—He agreed with the lion. Gent. as to
the value of the Works in question ; lint he begged to remind
bitn that it was the extravagance of states a hick led to their
ruin. lie for one, therefore, though he stood ;dime, and should
be accused of want qtaste, must oppose the motion.
Mr. HA Mt catsLEv Pposed the motion, resting his opposition
en the dishonesty of the transaction. He coincided iii the sum
proposed 48 being the value, but lie was not so enamoured of
there headless Ladies, as to forget that there was another Lads
--Justice, who most be attended to. Were not these mono-
"mite t he result of spoliation. and were the spoils to be defend-
ed GE the ground that the 'lurk ish Government had not impeded
the progiess of the spoliations, nor called for a restitution of
the spoiis.—(hear, hear.)—He rt rutinneinfeil to his Alajesty's
Geveinment to resiure to the Turkish nation what heir Am-
bassador had so wrongfully taken. This was the only way to
wipe out the stein %%Inch the transact ;on roust othei wise entail
'OD the nat'on. 'file Hon. Gant. men wove(' sum *mewled
iosolutiurc generally censuring the conduct of the British
Aniba.ssailor Laid }Agin ; at the sante time admitting, that his
'Art,;cet was good, in obtaining the tumbles, uflering laisu