The National Register.
London, England, 1821-05-27 00:00:00

TLESDAir, MAY 22.

There was a ballJt fixed for to-day for a committee to
try the merits of the Peterstield tilection petition ; but as
there were only 85 members present ,t four o'clock (100
being required for a ballot), the house, was declared to
stand adjourned till to-morrow. _ _

WEDNESDAY, MAY V.
The gallery was nut opened till near five o'clock, in
eonsegnenee of the ballot to try the merits of the Peters-
field right of election petition.
Mr. D. BROWSE brought in the bill to amend the
navigation laws in Ireland.

M-17. CHETWI NDE presented the report of the Va-
grant Laws' committee, and gave notice, that to-morrow
he should move for leave to bring in a bill 011 the subject.
Dr. PHILLIMOItE presented the report of the Lime-
rick tight of election committee, which he read at the
bar. The committee had determined that the right of
election was in freemen and freeholder* of the town and
county of Limetick, &c.
Mr. C. H. HUTCHINSON gave notice, that on Friday
next, on the question that the house go into a cominittae
of supply, he should call the attention of the house to cer-
tain circumstances connected with the state of Europe.
Mr. HUME gave notice, that on the 1211 i of June lie
should move an address to the King, on the necessity of
reducing the expenditute, and pat ticularly of lessening
the at tity. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME also gave notice, that on the 7th ofJone he
should submit a motion tespectitig the lonian Islands, and
particularly touching the conduct of Sir T. Maitland.
Several petitions were presented against the tlettopolis
Road hill.

Lord MILTON asked whether any member could in-
form him if it wcro the intention of the agricultural
committee to discuss, or ri.comiaead, any repeal of the
agricultural horse tax i

Mr. CUIO% EN said he was sorry he did not see the
chairman of the committee in his placer hut lie added, if
no other member gave any notice on the subject, he
should de so on Mammy.
Mr. HUME moved for various accounts respecting the
expenres at Lewisham, &c.—Ordered.
CRIMINAL LAWS..--CONATITIiTIONIAL ASSOCIATION.
On the presenting or a petition ter the revision of the
criminal laws,
Mr. BROUGHAM called the attention of the house to
an important infringement of the law that :tad Ittken place
in the pi actice of the et intiaal law, and in the lit ivilegcs
of the Attorney and Solicitor General, that of instituting
prosecutions fur libel. (Hear, hear.) Au association, of
questionable legality, was established to prosecute puliii-
cal libels, by means of a common fund ; but the iudisi-
'Wale wets unknown and irre►ponsible. He was now
willing to address to such nidivithials the lamotage of
expostulation, for lie was much deceived if those indivi-
duals who persevered did not live to 'client the course
they wt re polluting. 'floe tends and discretion were, in
fact, in the power of cite or two attorneys; and solely it
who much betterthat the discretion should be lett in the
hands, as usual, of the Attorney and Solicitor General.—
(Hear, hear.}—'There was Roomer objection to the asso-
ciation • there wet c among the subscribers nu I. ss than 10
peels, and it was within the tit 111,1: of possibility that those
peers might become judges, in their usual capacity, of
cases which they combined to prosecute. Study those
noble lords could nut he aware of the character of their
rooduct. (Hear.) He hail (keened it right to advert to
these circumstances. Counter associations would not cute
the evil, but they were likely to be the cunsequonce.--
(Hear, hear.)•--Petatiuu ordered to be printed.

RE.ictu tie Ctioribm.s....Mr, G. BENNLAT moved
fel leave to bring in a hill to amend the laws respecting
persuns gully of rescuing criminal.. As the law stout',
rlb uteaut tile comuion lex, the pt.i inns guilty el reNcties