The National Register.
London, England, 1823-03-09 00:00:00

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THE NATIONAL REGISTER '

come, and Parliament were now to consider the ptopriety of
enabling his Majesty to dispose of it. The noble and learned
lord expressed a hope that no objection would be entertained by
their lordships to an Address, to return thanks to his Majesty
for his most gracious Message, and to inborn] him that the House
would consent to measures necessary to enable his Majesty to
die. me of property which he possessed before his Accession to
the Crown. _ _ _

Lord ELLENBOROUGIi observed. dudes the Address was
a mutter of form, he should say but little on the subject. lie
was not friendly to the enactment of a Bill which would enable
his Majesty to dispose of property which came to his possession
before his accession, to any person. In common cases, where
the debts of an individual were paid, the person paying such
debts had a lien on the property of the debtor. The Public
might have a prior claim to the property in question. The noble
lord considered the question one of importance, and when the
measure which must follow the Address came before Parliament,
his trust was it would not he overlooked.
Tho Address was carried MOIL cum.—Adjourned to Monday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MONDAY, MARCH 3.
Sir C. NOEL presented a petition from the " Princes
Olive," now confined in the ruler of Ore King's Bench Fabian,
praying the interference and protection of that House. •' Her
Royal llighness" represented the peculiar bardahips of her
case ; of the failnree that had attended her various applications
for justice ; of her inability to get due attention paid to her
claims and " Itojal Birth ; and of the general calamity that
had therefore personally resulted to her.—Head and ordered
to be printed.

Sir T. LETHBRIDGE postponed from Wednesday to Fri-
day his motion respecting the state of agriculture.
Mr. CURTEIS presented • petition from some place in
Sussex, against the Hop Tax.
Mr. Alderman WOOD said he thought the Chancellor of the
Exchequer would not be induced to attend to this petition.
Ply some of the papers be had been erroneously made to say,
that he wished the malt duty to he taken off, and lie beer duty
continued : the contrary was the faot—lie wished the beer tax
to be repealed. That would really aflbrd relief to the agricul-
turists, as well as to the poorer classes. It WAS the 311 a. beer
duty that lie desired to be repealed It hail been rumoured
(but the Chanealtor of the Exchequer contemplated the propo-
sition of a ss. or intermediate duty ; it would do any thing
but Alford relief to the barley grower.
Mr. LITTLETON said, that such intermediate duty would
be useful, as would be the adoption of a portion of the bill
for throwing open the trade.
Mr? G. BENNET said, that it would be much better to re•
move the beer duty altogether, and to impose any duty that
might be deemed requisite on the malt. Why should the poor,
who bought their beer ready brewed, be exposed to charges
from which the rich, red those who brewed for themselves,
were exempted' There was at present en inequality of tax-
ation, pressing heavily on the poor, which ought to be re-
moved.

Mr. LITTLETON remarked, that the duty produced about
2,ooo,o9ol.—Petititioa ordered to he printed.
The Scotch Creditors' Bill w. •. through a committee.—Re.
port to-morrow.
The Lords' Alarriage Act Amendment Bill was read a se.
coed time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow.
The 20,000,0001. Exchequer Bills Bill, the Transfer of
Aide' Bill, &c. were read a 040 time and passed.
The 000uuittees of supply of ways and means were pat-
poned till Wednesday.
Mr. G. BENNEI' brought forward this subject, as a matter
merely to afford him the opportunity of instituting some in-
quiry ; he wished to learn something respecting the present
state of the Penitentiary, Milbank. There was a great deal of
sickness in it ; out of SOO prisoners there were 129 on the sick
list ; and there had been some coroner's inquests, and the ver-
dicts were of a remarkable nature. He should like to have a
committee on the subject, to ascertain vihat success had at-
tended this Parliamentary prison, and to learn what would be
a sufficient dietary. He concluded with moving for a copy of
the coroner's inquest on Adams, &c.
Mr. PEEL was glad that the subject was brought forward.
ble was anxious that there there should be the fullest inquiry.
The average number of sick were 40 oat of 800; now there
were about 130, and the cause was what was generally termed
sea scurvy." Inquity was already instituted by Dr*. Latham
and Engel. Their report should be laid before the House.
The dietary was altered iu July last, but the sickness did col
appe,r till January.

G. It ENNET was satisfied with the st ps that had hten
adopted, but be should not be wholly satisfactory with the
opioione of any two physicians, sad acuustouted to attend pri

Mr. tIOLFORD was glad that inquiry was to be instituted.
Motion withiltawn for the present.
ORANGE Soctectrs.—Mr. PLUNKETT referred to a mo-
tion which stood fur to morrow, regarding secret ►ocieties in
Ireland, it would he prejudicial to bring it forward now. As
to the constitutional or legal character of those societies, his
opinions were well known ; indeed lie believed there was very
little difierence nt• opinion un any side of the House. Ile be-
lieved the motion hunt reference to some devolopement of the
societies' principlcs iu recent slrairs, in dressing the statute,
and the outrage at the theatre ; and as there was a motion dis •
tinctly attacking his recent conduct, respecting which he was
to defend himself on a future day--was it fair to involve him
in a discussion which world occasion an investigation of his
conduct before he was pot on his trial

Mr. A BEKCHOMIIgY was ;Uri in--7setl at the manner in which
lie was asked to pompom his ignition. Ile had no disposition
to do any tiling that was atirsir towards the right hots. gentle.
man ; lie hail no desire to invoke the Consideration of recent
invents ; he only wished to trace the origin of Orange bodges,
end to show that those lodges formed a part of Ow system of
the Goverument in Ireland. lie then desired to gain the opi-
nion of the House expresnive of such fact. It was quite JlB'-
111101 from the right lion. gentleman's cane. As many persons
had remained in England on account of bin motion—(mar !)--
he could nit postpone it, except on some solid grounds.—
(Hear, berm.)

A petition was presented and read from West India mer-
chants, NC. pralng that the extension of the West India re-
siiictions might be lollowcd by an equslization of Eut and
West India Augar Dustes.—Octlered to he printed.
Mc. Al. W IIInIORE then gave notice, that on Wednesday.
the 19th, he should move for a committee to laming'. c the
whole of this question.

. •
SoxtNt. Nn.--The House having gone into a Committee
on th..! National Debt Reduction Act,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to bring
forward a sett,. or Resolutions, e‘planabiry of the future views
of the Goverument, respectio4 the Sinking Funds, &c. Ile
did out anticipate Ciat they would be objected to, bit in ver-
°auks' it was his duty to go into F011it! expl;maiiims. 1 lie plus
for employing the surplus of the revenue towards tile Flynn:in
of the debt, had evitt•tieuccd the highest Incise, end it was

'•)

commendable, Ithongh it might have esposed interruption,
difficulty, or counteraction. Because die whole of any object
might not he accomplishable, was that any reason for not at-
tempting in achieve any portion of it ? lle was persuaded that
the people were prepared to make sacrifices, if the reasonable-
ness of (hens were shown, to resist unjust aggressions abroad,
or in support the national honour.-- (neer, events
as had taken place within the last 30 years were not likely to
recur. They baffled the calculations of the wisest, and con-
founded the precautions of the prudent. The principle of the
Sinking Fund was good. Since 1817 there had I een an actual
reduction of debt. That could 1101 have been accuniplished
without appropriating surplus revenue. There was ■ diminu-
tion of the funded debt of 19 millions and upwards ; of the
unfunded debt four millions and upwards, altogether upwards
of 24 millions, being an average reduction of 31, millions a
year. His plan was to appropriate the surplus of .1,000,0001.
esclusiiely to the porpoises • f the Sinking Fund. instead of
per ling payment* to be made thereuut for objects oilier than
those of the redemption of portions of the debt : and to permit
the interet to remain and accumulate at compound interest.
When such interest bail accumulated so as to meet one per
cents of the interest of the debt, then it was to be applied so
as to enable the further reduction of bites to a corresponding
amount.—He concluded with moving the preliminaty reso-
lution.

Mr. HUME decidedly opposed the plan he considered that
theplln to be adopted would be to reduce tasatiou.
Mr. HAKIM: and Mr. THOMAS WILSON supported the
”stem of a Sinkin., Fund, u advantageous to the country.
The WHO MAYOR' hoped the House would pause before
they consented to evertun a system which had been solensuly
adopted and reputedly recognised by some of the greatest
men on hook sides the House which this country ever produced.
After a few words from Mr. RICARDO, the resolution way
agreed to.
On the resolution respecting annuities of half-pay,
Mr. lIUME said he would take the sense of the conirnittee,
and after some conversation, the committee divided :
For the resolution 110—Against it 39—Majority for mi.
Meters 71.
The several other resolutions were after some conversation
agreed to. The Heuse resumed, and the report was ordered
to he received to-morrow.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House adjourned
at Eleven o'clock.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4.
Pooß LA WS.—Mr. NOLAN obtained leave to bring in a bill
for the iimeinlinent of the Poor Laws. It was in principle and
its main 'inflict: Lars similar to the hill introduced :tat session;
and the reasons which then induced him to bring it forward.
and which lie formerly expressed, now operated on him :o
propose this measure. lle should postpone the second reading
till after the recess.

Cot. WOOD said, he had a series of resolutions hereafter
to submit to the Hotter respecting the law of settlement. The •
bill went to place the lower orders under greater coercion, to
induce them not to apply for parochial relief—a proceeding
that he could and support. De thought that the House ought
not to he passing Acts to limit the advantages of the people,
without making any enormity°. He viewed that dm of the
people as high spirited, and net so easily to be driven, because,
perhaps, they were the highest spirited people in .he world.—
Leave given to introduce the hill. •

CIVIL LIST.—AIIIDASSADORS.—IIr.LEONARD asked, whe-
ther there was to be any reduction of the Civil List Expen-
diture, particularly in that portion of it that regarded the al-
lowances !,r anoiassatlors

Mr. CANNING was not aware of any intention to make
such reductions ; he should be better prepared to give an answer
on the subject in the course of the session.
Mr. LEONARD added, that if no snob reductions were
made, be should deem it his duty to call the attention of the
House to the subject.
On the presentation of the Report respecting the Irish -
A ed Taxes,
Air CURIVEN said, he should move, that it be an instruc-
tion to the c 'Dee to remove all the Assessed Taxes on it
conages.—Report agreed to. •
SCoTell DIsTILLERIEs.—Sir R. FERGUSON asked when
the proposed alteration of the duties was likely to take place I
it was of much importance to the distiller.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, certainly
not before October.

ASSESbUD TAXES PETITION.—Mr. 110BHOUSE presented
a petition from many most respectable householders in St.
Ann's, Westminster, praying for the repeal of the whole (lithe
Assessed Tests, and against the proposed appropriation of the
Sinking Fund. Ike petitioners state, that it was a breach of
faith with the public debtor to require him to pay for more
than the current expeuditure and the interest of the debt.—
(Ilear.)---The new Sinkimms Fund Scheme was as much a de-
lusion as the plans that had preceded it. Ile should hereafter
move the reduction of the whole of the House and Window
Tax.---(Hear, :sear.)
Mr. MAXWELL expressed the hope that the Cottage Tax
might be reduced ; it was an odious and unpopular tax.
Mr. HOILHOUSE asked whether the Sinking Fund Rill
was to be pressed forward now? if lime were given, there
would be petitions against it. If it passed, how could the
House propose the further reduction of taxes?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not see
any reason for delaying such bill. It could go to a committee,
and there alterations might be proposed; if 5,000,0001, were
deemed too much, 2,009,0001. anightle named , the resolution
could be postponed till Thureuay.—Petition ordered to be
printed.
TYTIDS.--IRELAND.—Mr. HUME brought forward his pre-
mised motion. If the Ministers bad been desirous to bring
forward any plan, they had had ample opportunity. There
was much error as to what was meant by the church. They
beard muds about church and state. Some considered the
clergymen to constitute the church, hut St. Paul deemed the
congregation, those who were assembled together, amid who
were of the same opinion, to be the church. That construc-
tion he deemed to be correct ; but its messing was much per-
verted. The church, in fact, was the creation of the law.
The church properly, at least three-fourths of it, were given
fur the purpose of dmarity ; and Utile laws could not deal With
such, how came it that the Protestammts now enjoyed what the
Catholics load possessed t And if such property were like pri-
vate property, held in perpetuity. how was it that the Bishop
of Cloglier had been deptived of his station and emoluments ?
If the bishops and clergy did not perform the duties assigned
to them, they might be deprived of their emoluments, for such
things had been. They had what was culled the core of
souls ;" but how could they take care of time souls of their
docks, when they were absent at Bath, Chelteritmans, Rome,
end all putts of the world ? sod were time House to golfer such
abut t Ile saw nothing in the case which ought to prevent
time House limn meddling with it. Time property had been bet
apart to maintain the established religion, and it was the duty