The National Register.
London, England, 1820-06-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Ordered to be printed oil the motion of Sir W. Curtis.
Mr. Sheriff BOTHWELL presented a Petition from
the Common Council. praying to be heard by Counsel
respecting the Berkshise and TlLatw Canal Bill.
Mr. ) UGHAALiostponed "iflitirstlity week
motion r ectigil"lttratlgn of—diallogier.sgeasPKty,
welt ti ,Ite Zxpctetflthe Education-digest would be
printed and ready for delivery.
Om LIST BILL.—Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that
the house agree to the Lords' Amendments to the Civil
List Bill. One amendment was to introduce 140,1001.
instead of 140.0001.
The SPEAKER said that this alteration was merely to
con ect a clerical error —to correct a wrong casting np

of the figures.
Lord MILTON was snaking to guard against any pre-
cedent being drawn from this circimistance, although the
error was only clerical.
The Amendment was then agreed to; it being also en-
tered on the Journals, that it was to correct a clerical
error of the Clerks of the Commons.
SCOTCH COURTS, &c.—Lord A. HAMILTON observed,
that the Commission for Enquiry into the State of the
Scotch Courts had prentatuiely ceased; had the Ministers
any objection to produce the correspondence between
the Government and the Board?
Lord CASTLEREAGH would answer the question to-
morrow.
Mr. WODEHOUSE presented a Petition from the
Ship• Owners of Great Yarmouth, praying that there
might be no alteration in the Navigation Laws.
Mr. F. ROBINSON presented a Petition from W.
Anderson (of Norwich), praying that the House would
repeal all the laws affecting the Corn Trade. Read, and
ordered to be printed.
CORN LAWS. —Mr. H. SUMNER moved that the Peti-
tions complaining of Agricultural distress be referred to
a Select Committee.
Mr. F. ROBINSON opposed the motion, contending
that even the agitation of the subject at the present mu-
mead was a misfortune to the country. The farmers had
great protection, and more would not benefit them, be-
sides unnecessarily keeping bad lauds in cultivation.
As to the average, change would not be improvement;
and as to the effect, there had been the largest importa-
tions when the peke was at e 94.
Mr. COKE observed, that many petitions had been
presented to that House from time agriculturists of Nor-
folk, complaining of distress, and lie had no doubt that
their complaints were true. He felt that they were dis-
tressed, but he should nevertheless oppose this minims.
He was sorry to be obliged to differ (ruin so many whose
opinions he respected, but he. did not think the motion tar
inquiry would answer the intended object; and he had
rather it had not been introduced at all. He had always
delighted in agriculture; he had spent nearly his whole
life in its practice; but he (lid not see how much worse
the agricultu • were thee any other class—then the
manufacturers sod the merchants. He should rather
see the inquiry on a broader basis, so as to include the
commercial and manufacturing interests. He would
have preferred a more general one—one of inquiry
into the state of the nation. There were too many
proofs of the distress of the manufacturing classes to
doubt of the necessity of inqniring into their sitnation
also. The Petition from Kirkeaton, presented that even-
ing by a Noble Lord (Mittou), was a melancholy proof of
the distresses of the manufacturers in that and other
places. Members bad talked of the general distress, and
attributed it to various causes. He considered heavy
taxation as one great cause of distress to all; but to the
laud-owner aaJ occupier tithes were a most grievous
burden. The effect of tithes was to occasion a with-
drawing df capital from the poor lands, which could nos
be aapporSed without artificial manure; and it was well
known that the clergymen never contributed any to those
or any other lands.—(Hear, hear.) He again said, that'
he was sorry lie could not agree to the present motion,
out of respect to the petitioners; but be did not think it
would be productive of any good.
Mr. ELLICE wished to understand, whether it was the
intention of the Honourable Mover to press this question
to a division; for, after what they had heard, amid not
doubting that the object of it was to aggravate the gene-
ral distress of the country, those who opposed it might
think it their duly to move the previous question on it.
Mr. HOLME SUMNER did not see any good effect
which could result from not pressing the question to a
division.
Mr. ELLICE then moved the previous question.
Mr. MANSFIELD supported this aniendmeid.
Mr. BROUGHAM supported the motion for a Com-
mittee, in a %keels of considerable length.
Lord CASTLEKEAGII said, that its order to get rid of
the ori„isial motion of the Honourable Member fur Surrey,
he should vote fur the previous geestiou.
Mr. E. WODEHOUSE made some observations, which
were bleeds' k in the gallery ; and
Mr. H. SUMNER replied—
Tbe House then divided.
Fur the original motion
For the previous question IOI

Majority in favour of the motion for a Committee 49
Mr. BARING moved the adjournment of the House, in
order that the Committee aught he appointed at a time
when there could be a full attendance.
Sir 11. WILSON seconded the motion for adjournment.
After a very long debate the motion of Mr. Baring was
put in the following form, and carried unanimointly
'• That this debate be adjourned till this day."
Adjourned at War o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, MAY SI.
COMMITMENT FOR CONTEMPT. Lord ALTHORP
presented a Petition front persons committed by the High
Court of Chancery, on aeconnt of informalities. One
person (a woman) was aged 81, and had been confined
.14 years; another was aged 61, and had been confined
19 years; and others had endured extensive hardships.
They prayed to have extended to them provisions similar
to those provided by the Insolvent Debtors' Act.
Mr. G. BENNETT observed on the hardship that
many of those persons committed for contempt endured ;
and thought that some arrangements ought to be made
for the hearing and adjudication of such cases once ur
twice in each year.
Mr. LOCKHART was against any provisions on the
subject being introduced into the Insolvent Debtors'
Bill.
Petition read, and ordered to lie on the table.
BREACH OF PRIYILEGE.--NIF. C. W. WYNNE ob-
served that ha was nappy to 6a4 the notice takea in dint

House of the action commenced against the Warden of
the Fleet for the alleged escape of R. C. Burton, had
been attended with proper effect. The action was with-
drawn, and the parties guru ready to make every apt).
W,,Citirl4 gillthhtice,for Tit tdOk•
1‘ , we
think hAaiNfur Nave to brio/ in a Bur ter
regulation of the City Jails.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER weed:
that the House should now resolve itself into a Committee
of Ways and Means.
This motion being agreed to, and the 'tense having
accordingly resolved itself into such Committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated his
anxious wish to bring the subject before the House as
soot, ss possible aloe' its conclusion, it being intimately
connected with the maintenance of public faith. He
lett particularly satisfied with the remit, because it was
so advantageolos to the public. The loan was to be
effected by funding Exchequer Bills to the amount of
7,000.0001. The total amount of Exchequer Bills out-
standing amounted to between 35 and 3ii,000,0001. Be-
sides this 411101111 i, titers were four onillions of Irish Trea-
sury Bills. The soon, making 39,000,0001. was abort
10,900,0001. less than the outstanding at the cor-
responding period of last year. Detlnciing thp amount
of Exchequer Bills in the hands of the Bank, &c. there
were from 16 to 10.000.0001. in the possession of private
individuals. This application ass made to the state of
the Exchequer Bills. previously to the transactions of
the present day. It cal deemed convenient and advise-
able to call in part of such amount, and that was to be
done by converting 7,090,41. 01. of those Exchequer Bills
lotto Siock. lie calculated that the unfunded debt, by
the operations of the toreaent year, would be reduced to
18.000,0001. and 5,000,0001. in the hands of 'solvate in-
dividuals. The terms of the present function( were to
receive 991 Stock, fur every 1001. principal of Exche-
quer Bills; and the transaction would be an obvious ad-
vantage to the subscriber of g per eastern. Whn ther it
was frum this advantage, or a calculation of the rise of
Stock, he knew nut; but so eager was the contest, that
the list was filled in a quarter of all hour. The resolution
which lie should move would go to a consummation of the
bargain thus coneluded:—the resolution was, that those
persons who had caused their names to be entered on the
books, on depositing 201. per centuon, 8101 be entitled.
fur every 1001. aubscription entered, to receive 991. stock,
and interest at per cent. &c.
Mr. P. ORENFELL did not clearly understand what
would be the result to the debt of 11xt Country by the
proposed funding; by one mode the increase of the debt
would be 6,000,0001. by asollier it woeld be 7,000,0001.

Mr. MABERLEY • onsidered that the amount of the
unfunded debt was nearer 49,000,0001. than that stated
by the Right Host. Gentlentan I and this lie should have
been able to sliew had lie those papers before him for
which he had formerly moved. The revenue in the April,
quarter hail not increased, and if the same were the case •
at the end a the July quarter, there would be an in-
creased deficiency in the Consolidated Funtl—a fund that
was already in arrear about 7,00,0001. If the revenue
were nut better by July, then the Consolidated Fund
would be in irrear about ten millions. This ought to be
guarded against, because that fund was the security for
the payment of the dividends.
Mr. J. surni observed, that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer had said that lie should not want a luau be-
yond five millions for 1810 ; was the present proceeding
to operate as a loan of live or seven inillious? That was •
simple inquiry, yet it had not toren explained.—(Hear.)
After :mine remarks from Mr. Martin, &e. the tesolu-
lion was agreed to.—Report to-morrow.
Several Petitions having been presented,
Lot d CASTLEREAGH got leave to bring in the Alien
Bill.
COMMITTEE ON AIMICULTERAL DISTRESSES.—Mr. H.
SUMNER moved the order of the day for resuming the adjourned
debate on the appointment of a Committee on the state of agri-
culture. He them handed to the Speaker a list of gentlemen.
whom he proposed as members of the Committee.
The SPEAKER read them in the following order :
Mr. Sumner, Right Hon. J. Foster, Right. lion. G. Canning.
Right Hon. F. Robinson. Right Hon. Fitzgerald, Right
Hon. W. Fluskisson. the Lord Mayor, lord Milton, Sir J.
Newport, Sir Thomas Arland, Mr. John Fame. Mr. Western.
Mr. C. Dundas, Mr. /hire, Mr. Smokes. Mr. Brougham, Mr.
Bennett, Mr. Irving, Mr. Coke Mr. Gooch, and Mr. F. Lewis
The SPEAKER next proceeded to put the question on
each name separately; when he arrived at that of Sir C. Dundas,

. -
Mr. BARING rose, and observed that he could not allow
even the reading. of the names to be concluded without expressing
his decided opinion that a Committee so formed could not leave
a moment's doubt as to the nature of the report at which they
would arrive, even before they proceeded to examine a single
witness, or to inspect a single document. ( item, hear.) At the
same time he begged merely to enter his protest against being
supposed to consider this committee so appointed as likely to do
any wing to elucidate the subject, or to benefit the country. He
knew as well as ilk were now upon the table, what kind of a
report would be nuidc, and the whale formation of the Committee
was such as to excite the most just a!ann in every part of the
kingdom. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. H. SUMNER complained that he had not been quite
fairly dealt .ith. The Hun. Member opposite, (Mr. Banng)
bad desired time lust night ;or the choice of the names, to which
he intimated that he should not object: under these circutustaaces
an objection from hint came rather ungraciously.
Mr. W. SMITH said, that when he voted last night, as he
was ready to avow that lie bad cone, m favour of the Commit-
tee, he wished to be undcrstoial that .II he meant was, that lie
could not reconcile to his judgment or to his feelings to refure to
so large a proportion of the Malta bents of the country an inquiry
into a subject which appeared to them to be of so much im.
porttnce. He did not know how to tell the agriculturists, who
stated themselves to be starving, we will refuse to take your
case into consideration." Ile had never intended by his vote to
hold out an expectation that the Committee would be able to
grant a partial relief beyond what the agriculturists at present
enjoy. If the cultivators of the soil could make out a ease, he
did not wish to deny them the opportunity. As he had before
remarked, lie had no objection to the appointment of a Com.
mittee. the majority of the Members of which should have a
general leaning in their mitlns to consider the case, but not to
grant further protection. (hear.)
Mr. SUMNER added. that lie knew there was a certain num-
ber of gentlemen in the House who were determined to resist all
inluiry, and to refuse all telief. Others entertained a different
opinion, and in the list lie had handed to the chair he had only
taken care to secure a majority of those who had thought that
disttess existed. and that endeavours ought to be used to afford •
remedy.
Mr. CAI.CR AFT said, that when he had voted against the
amintment of a Committee, he was aware that a certain degree
of Mitres, prevailed among the agriculturists, but he could not
CYBKIII ttjesepatrykrthes be beard its advocates