The National Register.
London, England, 1819-12-05 00:00:00

TRAVERSE BILL.

The Lord CHANCELLOR rose to present a Bill to provide
for the better Administration of Justice. The noble and Lear-
ned Lord assured the House that his proposition did not arise
from the state of the times. It was his intention long since to
introduce a Bill of the description he held in his band. In mat-
ters of information in the Court of King's Bench, the defendant,
by the practice of the law, has a right to say 1 will not plead in
certain cases till next Term. In consequence of that right his
trial is frequently delayed to a period when the object of the law
is defeated. Whether it was nght or not for the Lords to adopt
the regulation praponed on this subject, he should submit to the
House at the second reading. The object of the Bill was to
take away, in all instances, except in pleading in civil cases.
the right of putting off the time of pleading, unless the Judges
be of opinion that the nisi ought to be postponed. The Noble
cad Learned Lord concluded by moving the Bill be read a first
time.
Lon! HOLLAND said, he understood the Bill was framed
to prevent delay in proceeding to trial in cases of information.
Ile wished to ask the Noble and Learned Lord, whether it was
to extend to all misdemeanours, or to ex-officio informations,
Sled by the Attorney-General. The Noble Baron' also asked,
whether it was to contain any provision for furnishing a defen-
dant with a copy of his indictment at the public expence.—
If the Noble and Leaned Lord meant to amend the law of
misderneanou-s, he had no doubt material amendment might be
made ; but, if it was only to remove inconveniences on one side,
with respect to ex-officio inforinations, and not on the other,
then the principle of the Bill would be unjust and most impo
The Lord CHANCELLOR said, the Bill extended to all
misdemeanours. With respect to impedance or traversing, lie
meant to allow defendants to traverse, if the Court thought
roper to permit it. The Bill did not apply to ex officio infor-
mations- With respect to copies of indictments the Bill
did not make any provision. The defendant in ail cases ought
to be well furnished with the charges against him before he
phads, but wlie!!ier that furnishing was to be at the public
expence the House might determine.
The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second
time on Thursday.
The Lord.' were summoned for Thursday on the occasion.
THE NEW MEASURES.
Viscount SIDMOUTH, rising to introduce the intended New
Measures to the House. said—"• In the speech delivered from
the Throne. his Royal Highness the Prince Regent states the
circumstances which induced him to summon Parliament. His
Royal Highness states that it was his desire to assemble Paella
went for the considerati in of such measures as may be woe:airy
for the counteraction of a system, which, if not checked, must
draw confusion and ruin on the nation. Ilia Royal Highness
the Regent's confidential servants have thought it iacunibent
ate them to prepare measures for the consideration of your Lord-
ships and the other Howie of Parliament.
It is with grief 1 have to state, and with grief your Lonlship4
will feel, it is from the Press the great (nil we complain of has
arisen. It has brought the Country into the state it now is. The
provision in this Bill is not to increase the punishment toe pub-
li.ation of seditious and blasphemous libels, but in the case of
repetition of the offence, it will be in the judgment of the Court
to punish with imprisonment. banishment, or transportation.
The Bill gives power to seize any seditious topic. in print, or
blasphemous libel. It is in ended also to lay a duty on publica-
tions of less than a given number of sheets, equal to that on
newspapers. It will be for your Lordships to decide whether
this provision is not only just, but necessary. with a view to
stop the baneful effect of cheap publicatieris, scattering poison in
every direction. It is further provided, that persons engaged
rn panting and publishing this tort of works shall be required
to cuter into recognisances for their ability to pay any penalty
to which they may be liable, the same as in the case of
stamps. One of the effects of these publications was to bring
p people together in large bodies in different parts of the
kingdom. As the law stood, it was in the power or any
individual signing his name to a placard, to bring to-
gether all the idle, disaffected, and cutiotu, in any part of the
country, on any day. No mate of civil society could exist if
these practices were to remain. The Noble Viscount then ad.
vented to the agitation in manufacturing districts, occasioned by
the Press, and harangues of Demagogues The new law was to re-
medy the evil In future. any meeting might legally assemble on
notice of the same meeting being sent to the magistrates, Sheriff,
or btilif'ut the district, by seven householders. It will be un-
lawful for any person to assemble at such meetings, unless they
belong to the parish or township where the meeting is held.—
The magistrates are to consider all meetings illegal where flags,
derma, and military array is observed. It was also proposed to
prohibit military exercise in any pert of the Kingdom, without the
consent of the Lord Licuter.art of tl.e County. A lid' for that
object would have no effect widmat another, allowing the search
for anus. It was known persons in manufacturing districts pos-
sessed arms. and it was to give to the magistrates power to seize
arras in different districts, and also to see persons having arms,
allowing them the power of appeal to the quarter eessions—
Having • rated the objects of the Bills, he expressed a hope that
Parliament would adopt the p.orose.i measures, If any better
measure could be proposed by any Noble Lord, it would be
reseh ed wifd respect and gratitude. The Prince Regent's
Ministers knew, that to concede would be to increase the danger.
They wished to avoid military government, and to establish a
government of law. The Noble Viscount concluded by moving
the first reading of his Rill, entitled an Act to prohibit the use of
rotatory arms and, military exercise.
The Bill was read a tint time, and ordered to he read a 'tecond
time on Friday.
Earl GREY considered the measures described by the Noble
Viscount ill calculated to meet the danger the Noble Viscount
described. He aliould be ready, lie said, to agree to diem, but
looking at the danger, and believing this system of foice, coer-
cion, arid tenor now to be established in this free country, Lim
rot calculated to arey but increase the danger. settled distrust
and wait of conlideaee in the proceedings in Parliament hail
occesioned, he should enter his protest against them, and contend
that they were calculated to brine ruin to the country. It is sorb
a blow, as never ice the history of thie country had been given by
any arVitrary Minister. Bekre tb(Noble Viscount called on
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THE NATIONAL REGISTER..

ready to contend they were measures of protection. There
was a loud and general cal/ on the part of the loyal for
protection. There was only one Bill which watt to abridge
the fair rights of Englishmen, namely the search Arms BilL
The Seditious Meetings Bill, so far from being a Bill ad-
verse to the rights of the people to assemble fur fair
discussion,no a Bin for the protection of them, by preventing
ttunithuous Meetings, which were a nuisance to the whole torn-
nmity. With respect to the licentiousness of the Press, it
would be impossible to restrain and punish the publishers of
poisonous cheap pamphlets, without stronger laws than those
now in force. The measure respecting anus was a temporary
and local measure similar to that passed some time ago. He
was anxious that two of the Bills, respecting Training and
Search tin Arms, should pass as quickly as possible.
It was then arranged that th. Lord Chancellor's Bill is to be
discussed on Thursday. . . _

The Search tor Arms and Training Prohibition Dill on Mon-
day.—The House etijoumed.
TUESDAY. NOT. 3n.
BANK PAYMENTS.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE ob.erved. that a rumour had
Rope forth of the intention of Government to apply some mea •
yore with a view to defer the return of the Danit to cash pay-
ments at the time limited by parliament. He wished. therefore.
to ask the Noble Earl whether ►uch was the intention of Go-
vernment. .

The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, he could assure him, that
his Royal highness the Prince Regent's Government had not
the least intention of interfering with the arrangements made
by the Governor and Company of the Bank, relative to a return
tomb payment.
STATE ON THE COLLNITRY

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, he rose in pursuance
of notice to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to
enquire into the State of the Country; and more particularly
into the cause of distress which prevails In the manufacturing
districts. The question for the Lords to consider was, whether
the dangers and difficulties were of so plain a nature that Pkr-
liament had no other remedy than to pass such Rills as the Go-
vernment might lay before them' and then return to their places
of residence ? No man ought to doubt that violence and *edit=
ought to be subdued, but it was the duty of parliantent to ex-
amine into the cause of violence and sedition. Unless they tea •
mined the cause, in they might do would be useless. The same
spirit would break out again—the same miseries would occur.—
Ile, for one, believed that distress was the foundation.—(Hear,
hear.) That spirit, called Radicalism, had taken root, and
flourished in proportion to the distress which had prevailed. In
the manufactunng amulets, where distress most existed, the spi-
rit of Radicalism had SI ISC4I to its highest point. The workman
had no means of relieiing himself in peace, and upwards of nine
hundred thousand families were thrown into a state of (heiress.
Could it be expected that men In such a situation should nut
listen to the harangues of demagogues, promising relief from
their burdens. In the melancholy business of Manchester. Mr.
Hay, the meal; state, stated in a lett r, that only part of the mob
were the refunning party. This being, the case, the unfortunate
were oronglyintitled to feeling and humanity. If the middling
classes of society once found that Parliament was cruel and in-
different to public distress, not all the levies of soldiers tiiey could
raise would save the Constitution. A rigid enquiry into public
burdens and retrenchment might be made the means of afEtriling
temporary. rehet. Them were certain duties which might be
taken oft in several aunties with great effect. In the article of
tea. If the duty was taken off, a very great relief might be
&Wonted, a, d pernaps by the extra consumption the amount of
revenue might not be diminished. Much might be dune in a
wininercial point of view—expoits might be allowul, which at
the premix. time *wild affoid relief. He had yet :u learn how
the Crown Officers bad so tong suth:red the most detestable lib.ls
to grow to tat state winch threatened the entire overthrew of the
country. To *hew how hods had been neglected, the Noble
Marquis cited one. published in a work, inutled The litrirrarr.
He read the words to the Isms& Alluding to the pits= of has
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, it stated, that it fie persisted
in shewing in.llfference to the sufferings of the people. they -ad
but one course, namely.ito act in that spirit which drove ass y the
bigot James from the throne. It went on to recommend assts.
einsttion, and destruction of property ? It was else just to punish
the leaders before the populace. If the Manchester Mecum; was
illegal why was not Mr. limit arrested Whore the Meeting?
Wny did n'ni theMakicatatre take measures to prevent an illegal
meeting ? It was clear the people were led to suppose they were
eau before the inter, option took place. All the untortunate colt-
comitahes connected with the conduct of the Magistrates ought to
be the bulAjeut of Parliamentary enquiry, In the year 1117.
after • riot aCOxford, at which ;it) life was lost, on the matter be.-
lag mentioned to the House, the Lords went into a Committee to
investigate the subject. In the case Of Captain Porcine. in foe
nut at Edinburgh. the Resolution of the House to bring the
Authorities of Seotlsnd to the liar, was unanimously agreed to
Tile same came ougat to be &looted now, and, to give grace to
the !awe. he naked their Lordships to proceed to enquiry. The
Noble Marquis concluded a twig and able epeecli by moving,
'Chat a Select Commutee be aprotinet so enquire lino the State
of the Country, and snore particular') into the Stew of DibUt
connected with the manufacturing Distrhis, us well as the execu-
tion of the Laws respec:ing Public Alectings.”
The Marquis it ELLESLEY nil to the general confi-
dence with which the most tespeetable part of the nation looked
at this time to Path meat.—Amidst cis great events which had
happened. the' qui:Aim] would naturally arise, what is the duty
Parliament have to discharge? A (Meet project had been raised
for its destruction, and they need not only to protect themselves,
but to maintain the Constitution. to Ave public security. And pro-
tect property front violation. Th. "Islobie Marquis hail taut, if
the Meeting had not been interrupted, it would have gone WI
peaccahle. 'rimy would no doubt have quietly voted the destruc-
tion of the constitution. Ile beaeld tie scene with silent tenor.

There was no time for lung examination of causes. lie dial not
think it was possible to form such a Committee a: the Noble
Lord proposed. It must be Maned by all the talent and integri-
ty of the !louse, and would they ;.wee Milt: to make sesatrches,
and meet the existing danger l* Enquiry ought not to take pre
cedence of the Bills so properly ilitroiltretal. The Noble Marquis
most strenuously opposed dic motion.
Lord ERSKINE defended the argument of his Nubl. Friend
who mate the motion. Ile upon the House to consider
whether they had evidence enough Is.fure rheum to uslify aver-
sive measures; if they had, they oug..t to pars the Rill introduced
by the Noble Vtashint. lle hee fired he never felt to much re-
gret as he slid at the rejection of the Amendment moved by his
Noble Friend (Earl Grey) the first day of thus ,inn. lle would
have suffered death if ,Ministers h. •. nut receised the benefit of
it. The people would Lave given up weir Aletuni.,s, feeling Mat
Parliameat was disposed to do something fur wan. The Noble
Lord supported the Lettion.
Lords GIIEN VILLE and LIVEIIPO(4. spoke .e:ainst the
motion for enquiry, and I ..,rds Gil EY and DARN LEY i.i fa-
vour of it..
The Marquis of LANSUOW Ng replied. He ass perfectly
ready to admit Rum ••• u. the prinpole
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DEC. 5

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Adjourned at One o'clock.

wrongsnaY. DEC. 1.
The LORD CHANCELLOR attended the House soon axles
four o'clock, when Lord Stamford and Warrington took the oath
and his seat.

Mr. BULLOCK presented. plumose to order of the House.
Returns relating to the Revenue, moved for by the Earl a
Lauderdale.
The House adjourned at five o'clock.
THURSDAY. Dec. 0.
EX-OFFICIO INFORMATIONS.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved, that an account c!
all ex-officio informations, between the ycats 1813 and 1819,
for blasphemous and seditious libels, be laid be:ore the House ;
and secondly, That an account of all indictments for blasphe-
mous and seditious libels between 1315 and 1819, be laid before.
she Houswi—The motion was .figreed to.
TRAINING PREVENTION BILL, AND SEARCH

FOR ARMS BILL.
Viscount SIDMOUTH rose to move the second reading of
the above Bills. He observed, that the House permitted them
to be read a first time so Tuesday, and in moving the second
reading this day, it was not his intention to occupy more than a
short portion of their time, by restatement. The provisions of
both these Bills were contained in the 5,A1 oldie King, passed
by their Lordships when a conspiracy prevailed in the Northern
parts of the kingdom to dcstroy machinery. The provisions
however, of that Rill were more rigorous tloan the Bills under
discussion. Re concluded by moving the be rend a second
time.

Lord ERSKINE. objected to the pmvisions of both Rills,
and suggested several amendments. with respect to the punish-
ment of trensportaties and the liability of persons to be prose.
cused for being present at any Meeting for training. His
intention was to propose amentiments in the Committee. Hi.
Lordship expressed an opinion. reminded on experience, th;.t
written evidence laid before Parliament was not to be depended
on. In 1794, the evidence laid before the House was found

The Lord CHANCELLOR said, when he found it his
duty, AS Attorney-General in 1794. to
_prefer indictments
against Horne Tooke and others, for High Tr:won. he did not
do it on written evidence, but whit pasted viva tear before him
in his official situation. He had been charged with want of
attention to the liberty of the subject, established in the Bill of
Nights. The charge was unfounded. The intentiori of this
Bill was net to derive men of arms sui-ablc to their condition.
It was to deprive then of arms dangerous to the Constitution.
He remembere I the speerh of a great man now no more; he
al uded to NIL Burke, when he used the dagger in the House
of Commons. Tue Lord Chancellor added, he knew where the
dagger was at that moment. It was not in possession of any
pessun dangerous to Parliament, and it would always remind
Inns of the great man wire by the very act convinced she Douse
of the dame.2r of his count).—Did the Noble Lents require a
similar etkirt to convince them of the present State cf the Coun-
try ?—A Noble unit Learned Lord ha I argued that men atten-
ding training, ought to have notice that they were coannitting
an ll,gal act. Ile would say. if inen are arming and training
our the yin pose of giving to numeious meetings sa appearance
of physical form, it was an overt act of High Treason. That
was his decided opinion.
Lord HOLI.AND said, if he had quoted Burke the dagger
would not leave been selected. It was not. in his Iftenbie Judg-
ment, the best instance of his eloquence and talent. One sen-
tence Burke uttered which he never could forget. It was this:--
•• If the people are greatly disaffected, we must lie a very bad
people, or we must have a very bad stliiiinisandion." The Bills
brought in by the Noble Viscount cou'd not have his unquali-
fied approbation, ye: lie did not say some such law as that with
respect to training, ought not to be adopted, in order to coins-
teract military proceedings which became an offence l'he
Noble Lord did nut mean to press any great opposition to
either Bill.
The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM said, it was a bill to
prevent the people using the arms they had a right to hold for
their own defence against the Constitution. Tire moment a man
used erns against the Constitution. Parliament ought to restrain
hint. They rotild not admit the evil and neglect the remedy.
lie had heard it said it was the duty of the House and Govern-
ment to conciliate the people ; but his Noble Friends did not.
till very lately, tell what that conciliation was. They at last
stated it to be a Reform in Parliament. On that Reform the
'Lelia& themselves could not agree. They were at variance
with the Noble Lord's.
I,nnl HOLLAND, in explanation, intimated that he had
never declared Reform is Padiement to be conciliation.
.111. Th..ar of aUeSI.X.—e I fist iis eon, quells eof the
low of areument taken by a Nislol•• dermas ohu states, that
tie- .ideal of Reform' os Radical Reform, is supported by
to. I remit) wish any Noble Lind speaking of us, would be
orreei iu lesquotation, wi h sespeet to the Hills tinder dis-
cussion this eveuing. t take the opportunity of stating my
general acquiescence in the Bills proposed. I miy be al-
lawed Ili tiresome time hi express it is with regret I bear
th on ii out en the opposite side Of 1110 House an opation
that be a. e inleitieal tin the interests of the State. %%e feel
we are conteirdnig for the tranquility of the come ry ma, Is
as the Noble Lind does. llusugh l tidier fc any Noble
Lard, I will stair my sentiments with that respect due to him.
and avoid ialimaing the public inlaid, wh.ch caution should
bellOW doily observed. Upon any subject connected
nlilt
the Mill of Right., Nlngna Charta, oral other Marie. s of the
Constitution I cannot speak without feeling sleep interest
end Ihe Noble:tout Mearsied Lord will allow me io weak with
respect ill mar ;mint. When he states there acre pro-
ceedings n ills respect to ironing a Tech he considered ties-
satiable, I may say I should have bren gtad if hr had been
Altorney-G, nerd of the Country, because if this opin ion
had licest originally psomuleated it would have saved its
Isom inisny difficulties. I state to the Noble Marques, that
lam not a Redoes!. Jly opinions arc r.s t 'lnstitutional us
his, hut is been I find rupee c °Uri, s have not betel pursued.
I. must says those ith)sislans ii ho thi mit loot to the sysoli-
haus of a disease, may give ph)sle, but never ewe the die-
order.
The Essrl of STIIATIIMOR E read a letter, tteeived
friers a Clereyn to at Ns neastle• It aas in suMialice
" Taeuty fasak sits demagogues, svho oured lit be hanged Or
socareerat...l, hose Mew math Ito 'chief in spiraitilL distr.
fee and rebellion The Justices sif tht Cowls have
been uhtigeit to i. aye their hauses. and take refuter %%ills their
families to this tee m."—'llse Nobs heist expiessed a hope
Mao na time might he lost to pars.tig, five Boils. All would
„he mint .at the ;imposed w tbr Hi Is were
carried into executives. The refi,es• were dishled info

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*ions was, that persons prosecuted by the Attorney General.
should not have the right to topairle. or traverse their pleas.
The Noble and Learned Lord said, he had collected all the
information he could on the subject, and he proceeded to
state the practice which had lung prevailed in the Court of
Ic.ioes.Bencli. This Bill did not call on a defendant 'to plead i
Int:inter. as he waShound toplead by the ancient law, but •
it gave the Court powre to allow a reasonalde time to en-
able him to understand his indistnaeot,. or_denosc_in _ 46,
the Lords permitted the Bill logo to a Committee, it might
•be amended as the House should think proper. A defend-
.ant Was to have the power of removing his indictment by
certiorari to the Kim: s Bench, under circumstances of a ta•
vourable nature, which did not then exist lie repeated,
that the Dill was not introduced from any view taken under,
the present state of the times The present law oil this
ject was not the ancient law of the land. In the case of the
seven Bishops, the ancient law, with respect to im arlance,
was violated and it had since been the opinion of lawyers,
that the Bishops were harshly treated 'the Noble and'
Learned Lord concluded by mos.,,g, thut-the BM be read a
second time. . . .

Earl GROSVENOR opposed the'l3ill. on the ground that
it would add to the inconvm•enee already felt by persons
called to answer upon ex atfi minformaiions and indictments.
Justice required they shou.d have the utmost indulgence of
the law to priorioe-for their defence.
Lord ERWINE opposed the principle of the Bill. It
could not be safe to take away the right of traver►e in cases
of seditionsiihels In such cases a man otten required more
time than the. Attorney General allowed. The Bill d d not
preserve the analogies of the law. There must he time to
collect evidence. He cited the else 0, Hatfield, the m.niac.
It was cease which had rendered the law of this country
• Ilnetrious; it proved how far insanity could reach, and to
what extent the indulgence of the law nn such a case would
go. When they took away from the accused the power of
traversing his indictment, they left him exposed to all the
grinding hardships the Attorney General could inflict. Ac-
cording to the Bull as it ►tood, the Attorney General night
delay the trial of the accused, leaving km with all the
.Insiety of a prosecution hang•ng over his head for years
The Bill came !velure the Home in had company. It came
with other Bills calculated to alter and infringe the ancient
law of the land.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, he was not pveparectto
defend this Bill on the close application of eat ibliebed law.
ft wasnet, in his opinion, salutary to make laws on specu-
lative principles, but it was an alteiation in the law, justified
by the peculiar situation of the country He asked any man
who knew what was going on-in the world, whether the
',resent litentiousness of the press, publishing works the
Most dangerous that could be read, was not a violation of
.ender and good manners? Conld the House, looking to the
effect of those publication.. say society could he kept
ther without wine remedial measure. The remedy, indeed,'
was difficult, and Government had endeavoured to serve the
country by the ;measures recently brought into Parliament.
.As the law now stood, it was in the power °Can indoridual
to imparle and put off his trial for five or six months, and
thereby defeat the ends of justice. l'he Noble Eari admitted
shat it was an innovation in the law, but it was, justified by
necessity. . .
LORD HOLLAND could not avoid making observations
on the speech of the Noble Lord who spoke last. His argu •
ment went to prove that the laws were subject to abuse, and
consequently liable to be changed at the will of the Minister
The law considered absurd in theory Lad been framed at
the best period of the Constitution by Lord :ionic's, one, of
the)createst risen known, in 1688. It was calculated to give a
fair advantage to. the subject. lu this Bill the Noble Lords
only considered the soli,ary instance of inconvenience anis.
ing from seditious and blasphemous libels, but how did the
Noble EaH and the Noble and Learned Cord differ in their
statements? 'That Noble and Learned Lord declared, tbat
the Bill was brought in, not from any view of nice present
state of the country, but it was theeffect °Phis intentiou long
existing to render the administration of justice more perfect.
The Noble Earl said, it was to put down blasphemous and
seditious publicatious. Which of the Noble Lords was right
informations ez officio had increased of lateeand were increas-
ing to an alarming extent. , Some hadrot been followed up
by trial. The inequality between the accused and the At-
torney-General, made it noarssary the. former should have
the right of traversing, yet that ancient right, given to the
subject at the Revolution, was to he torn away on pretence
of improper delay in proceeding to trial. It was a deiay the
subject had a right to claim• by the law of the land, sod be,
could nut be deprived of it without a violation of liberty de'.
rived from the constitissiGn.—The Noble Lord, in support of
his argument, related an anecdote of Lord Shaftesbury, (an •
cestorof the presentlEarl):—Tha tNoble Peer was so impressed
with the importance of allowing persons prosecuted for High
Treason the benefit of Counsel, that lie stood forward in the
!louse of Commons a resolute champion for the privilege.
Unaccustorned.to public •speaking, he became embarrassed
and unable to proceeds but having collected his ideas, he
exclaimed, addressing the Speakee--" Sir, if, in detailing that
which I consider right, I have been so ernharrassed as to for-
get myself will you not conclude, that a man on his trial may
lie embarrassed, and will yen take away from an individual,
tried upon a charge which may effect his lite, the benefit of
Counsel ?" The Noblel.ord wished to deprive the pour man,
prosecuted by the .Attorney General, of the benefit the law
had allowed •hini. Lord Holland declared his intention to
oppose the Bill in the Committee.
Atter sue e further discussion it was read a second time.

TRAINING AND 'twit FOR AIMS RILLS.
' The House then went into Committee on the Btlls for pre-
♦enting Military Training:end allowing the Seizure of Arms.
Auer tuna discussions, amendments were made, the Bill, as
&Attended, agt eed to,and ordered to be reported.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
•
I.OIILIAY, NOV. 29.
The Speaker, liar mg taken the chair, communicated the
ma:vier of the l'riuce Regent to the Address•tif that House,
ahicb was ordered to be entered on the Journals.
MANCIIMTER AFFAIRS.
Ir. BENNETT presented a Petition from merchants,
mitertfacturt rel. and others of Manchester and tialford, to
the amount of between 6 and 7,000 persons, praying the
House to institute inquiry into the fatal events which cc•
caned at Alanchtster nu the lath Anguetlast.

now. n4t runtime nianciiestpr proceedlOks, the mo-
tives which led 111111 there, the (drivel of the meeting, ace.
It also eel fin th the snidest's mad exertions made by the
petiniuuer in the King's Bench, and elsewhere, to institute
inquiry in the Law Coats The petitioner alao detailed
oat liytelArs regarding what he railed a charge for a pre-
tended conspiracy. Besides complaining of the Megis.
tree., &c. it also foetid :fattlt Narticttlatll► with •Itre
Ministers.

unavailing cries of No!
The House baying resolved itself into a Committee of
Supply,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, with-
em any further preface, he should content himself fur
he present with moving that a supply be granted to his
Mt. P. GRENTELI, obsessed, it had keen rumoured
that there was a couside. able decrease in the consolidated
In the f eight millions, in the quainter ending
Oct. 10. He sl Id be glad to leaui whether thee. was
4111 V truth in thi. statement.
'fie CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied,
that the diminution remitted partly trout the stagnation of
trede, and partly from the recent consolidation of the C. 4111-
101110, ire many hail paid up for the preceding quarter to
*told any intonate of duty Hien might be incurred by the
Consolidation of the Customs' Dories. There was a ilrfi-
cteney in the Excise of about. 2 .0,0001. a compared with
the correlionding period of Itfte, but thst priind's pro.
duce %AM the largest ever known. Hut from the toils of
October last to the slay on which i'arliatudit
the 2sii instant, there had been an increase in every,
branch of the Revenue

Motion agreed le.—Report to-morrow.
STATE 'or THE tour:TRY-11m NEW RESTRIC-
TIVE MEASURES.
'Flue niece Regent's speech, as tar as it regarded the
hoes nal state of die country, having been read,
Lord CASTLEREAGH mid, that .theuPrince Regent's
Speech unfolded to use House that greet danger existed,
that a spirit had now fully manifested itself which was
inecesipatible with the public tranquillity, and which was
clearly hostile to the Constitution. Such being the fact,
it would be teethe intern est of •the deluded and infatuated'
themselves to adopt measures to-rescue them as well as
the Constitution lions imintiteut danger. He word,' now
come more Immediately to the point before the House—
top detail those meson es which his Majesty's ;Ministers
would deem it right to propose. The first was to cheek
that alarming evil, the tninelteons meetings. The second
would be regirdoig the training to else use of arms, A:c.
The thud would lie of local operation, similar to what was
in effect in 1812—namely, to give esti aordinary possess to
search for end seize arms, &e. The fourth would be, to
secure the more speedy administration of justice. portico-
lads in the cases of misdemeanors. And the frith measure
regarded the Vies., not the general Press of the country,
but lenteasure fur the purpose of mote effectually emo-
ting and repressing the treasonable, blasphemous and
seditious Press. These were the measures which hi:Ma-
jesty's Ministers deemed necessary to save the country
from a ninary rebellion ow the one hand, and as alarm-
ing an evil on the ether, military despotism, for a •sangti i •
uary sehellion would be calculated to lead to such a state
' of things. The magistrates should be Clothed with a
power of preventing simultaneous meetings, by "'drying
the time etul place of meeting, ler the purpose Of doing
which with the greater effect, six days' notice should be
give') of the intention to assemble, Meetings should lie
stripped of their present garb. No man should meet to
petition in aisms,our carry revolution:lly symbols. Those
prohibitions were to be extended so all meetings. 'The
magistrates should have the power id' rerisding the inroads
of a mass of people. They should have the power of pro-
nonneisig in.:clings illegal from which strangers upon pro.
elematiort • refused to withdraw, and those sib() continued
alter the proclamation should he subject to serious pu-
nishment. He should not propose making it feluity of
death—(hear, hears—but us chewable felony He thought
•it reasonable that a quarter of an hour should be given to
strangers to 'ease, and half an hour alter that to the
meeting to disperse. The Bill would extend to SariCill•A
11101 registered, Institutions abhorrent to the Constitution.
With respect to the training system, the Bill would ope.
Tate effectually in preventing the people from being
drilled. These should be a difference as to the treatment
of the drillers and tlnr drilled. Those who were mnder
instruction should be halide to doe and imprisonment,
while those who drilled should he subject to transportation.
The Noble Lord then spoke of the dangers arising from
abuses of the public prem. His object was to apply a
salutary contioul, and for that purpose he should merely
act upon the established law of ahe land, and counteract
the trends committed by vendors of swell publications
upon :he regular newspapers, by subjecting all publica-
tions of a certain size to the duties. In •all this'
there was not a tittle against the liberty of the onisiect.
On the contrary, the measure would prove A proteetitni to'.
the liberty of the pima, and there could be no doubt of
the necessity of making it permaosolt Temporary.expes:
dients were fell of mischief. The disefferted watched the
time of their ending to burst out with irretiewed spirit of
hostility to the Governinestt. The Noble Lord concluded:
with moving lint leave, to bring in Iwo 8111s—une for more
effectually preventing seditious meetings and assemblies;
and the other fur makiursegelationsmith griper( to the
press.
Mr. TIERNEY said, tbal'lse.srate nOtprepared to enter
folly upon thus subjeet.mot having had any ides, when he
came down•to the House, that meny ponds upon which
the Noble Lord had dwelt tench, would have been touched
upon. The Mousse could mut with propriety entertain
1 ',rejects of this kind till a ease was made out on which
they Could set. All theyhad to go Nom was the notwiety
of the proeeedings thus tomb the country, upon the authority
of the Papers beltiord Ille.lionse, which acre the only eve-
dente with respect to the mutiven au.d exlent,ll more gar-
bled and inistiletedaccount could not easily lie set befose
Parliament. It was admitted by Ministers the internal
trade of the country was good, and that nothing was
to be apprehended excerpt boon lie distress of Ame
rice. Ili* was usual extraordinary. It would stquest
as if. our natures perversely changed, and we had de-
tetmiued lo Itlll the nation against its Cmistitatiun, lot •