The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

PRI'. 4.

This last proposition met general oppositicti, and Mr. Ponsonby
declared his intention to take the sense of the Committee upon its
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, proposed to omit the
obnoxious duty, in the present Resolution, intimating that he would
probably brine' it forward again on Wednesday next.
The other brine'
were agrevd to nem. con.
The Innkeepers' Allowance Bill was a first time.—Adjourned.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9.
The second reading of the Pancras Poor Bill was opposed
by Mr. Mellish and others, as contrary to the wishes of nine4enths
of the inhabitants, add, on a division, was lost, by a majority of
54 against
Some further evidence was heard on behalf of the East-India
Company, against throwing open the trade to India.
DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.
Lord A. IttatteToN rose to make the motion of which be had
given notice, relative to the illegal interference of the Duke of
Cumberland at the late Weymouth Election. It would be recol-
lected that three of the returned Members for that borough had
been dispossessed of their seats for some violation of the Treating
Act. The Committee' had declared it was necessary sonic retinal'
should be adopted in the mode of Election ; and it also appeared
that there bad been an improper anti unconstitutional interference
in the Election for Weymouth, on the part of the Duke of Cumber-
land. The evidence relative to the two first points had been laid
before the. Roust' ; the' evidence on the third point had been with-
held by the Committee. It was his wish that this evidence
should be produced, for among it would be found a letter written
by the Duke of Cumberland, dated St. .!ames's, 18th October,
1811, and addressed to R. Align das Stewart, Esq. Weymouth, in
which his Royal Ilighness requested him to exert his influence in
fivor of certain candidates at Weymouth ; and then alluded to some
place or office be had promised to intercede for, assured Mr. S.
might rely on his paying every attention, and using all his in-
fluence, to obtain what he wished. This letter was signed " En-
NEst." It also appeared in evidence, that the Doke of Cumber-
land had obtained possession of the writ at the last election, and
that he had: also; paid fur it ; and if that were not a subject to
rouse the attention of the House to the maintenance of its own
rights and dignity, he should despair of entertaining any flirther
hope that any thing could prevail with them to do so. Ile con-
cluded by moving " for a copy of such parts of the evidence taken
before tiw Committee appointed to try the Weymouth and Mel-
eombe Regis Election, as were not, included in the special Report
of the said Committee."
Mr. C. Loaa; opposed the motion, considering it unusual and
dangerous to meddle with the decision of an Election Committee.
He' (Mr. L.) had been charged with improper interference, and as
it was wholly unfounded, so, most probably, was the charge against
his Royal Highness. He moved that the House proceed to the •
Order of the Day.
Mr. Alderman ATKTNS said, the Committee had hilly considered
all the allegations of the Petition, and held that of the interference
of Peers as totally unworthy of a Report to the House. Ins Royal
Highness had certainly obtained possession of the writ ; but it ap-
peared to the Committee that no improper use had been made
of it.
Mr. WHITBREAD said it was proved that inflaenee of the most
palpable description had been used ; and if the Heusi. refused to
accede to the motion, they must surely be aware, what a handle
their conduct would give to the Friends of Par!iainewary Reform.
whom they professed to regard as ranch dangerous innovators, but
whose arguments, already convincing to his mind, must be ren-
dered irresistible, by refusing to take cognizance of such noto-
rious abuses.—Mr. Littman followed on the same side ; after some
further debate the House divided—For the motion :)7, against it
.10.*) ; majority 4.8.
The Weymouth Voters Bill went through a Committee, and the
;louse adjourned.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2.
The Chairman of the Cardigan Election Committee reported to
the House that the sitting Member had bee►: duly elected, and that
the Petition was not trivoio►s nor vexatious.
PETITIONS FOR PEACE.
Lord G. LEVESON GOWER held in his hand a Petition from the
persons employed in the Potteries of St:►ttnrdshire, praying that
the House would take into consideration the most etketinil means
of procuring an honourable peace. He t.hteil, that the petitiocurs
were a body of men who had always conducted themselves► with the
utmost propriety) and even -in those times whoa Lime country was

215

harassed by. tumultuous proceedings, they abstained from giving
vent to any intemperate feeling. He also mentioned that the peti-
tioners were very poor, and that they attributed that poverty to
the continuance of war.—The Noble Lord was of opinion that this
would be a proper time to ncgociate for peace, but he did not fa-
vour the idea of compelling Ministers to put such a measure into
effect. He thought it . most prudent to leave it to the Executive
Government to decide upon the propriety of taking'steps towards
facilitating so desirable an oliject, and would therefore merely
move, that the Petition do lie on the table. The Petition was ac-
cordingly ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, that he had a petition to the same effect
to present to the House. It was signed by a vast number of the
inhabitants of Leeds, and was couched in language which, from its
moderation, could not be objected to by the House. It was unne-
cessary, he said, to make any comments upon the advantages which
would arise from the lile3singS of Peace. He, however, thought
it_adviseable to leave it to Ministers to bring on the aneasure, and
should not submit the motion of which he had given notice to the
House upon the subject of Peace, in expectation that Government
would show that there was on disinclination 'llion their part to
bring about such an event. If he saw that there was a culpable
neglect in the conduct of Ministers, he should feel it his ditty to
introduce the subject of Peace himself to the House, but until he
observed that neglect he should withhold any interference. He ex.
pressed a wish to-know from the Noble Lord (Castlereagh), wile.
ther Government were a party to the Proclamation of Louis the
Eighteenth, which was, in his opieion, completely chimerical.
Lord CASTLEREAGH assured the Hon. Gentleman, that Govern-
ment were by no means a party to the Proclamation.
After a few words from Mr. STEPHEN the Petition was ordered
to lie on the table.
Mr. Wurrunean presented several other Petitions upon the
same subject from difkrent parts of the country, which Were or-
&red to lie on the table.
INCOME TAX.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT wished to know whether the Chancellor of
the Exchequer for Ireland had made his determination to extend
the Income Tax. to Ireland.
14t. W. FITZGERALD said that he had not.
FINANCE.
Mr. TIERNEY, after a variety of observations on the inexpe-
(llene), of the new plan ot finance, and on the necessity ot insti-
tuting some enquiry on the subject, previously to the passing of the
Bill then in progress through the House, moved for the appointment
of a Select Committee, to consider the former Acts of Parliament
on the subject, and to report thereon to the House.
The Cita:tics:Leon of the EXCHEQUER made an animated reply,
and stated that he could not consent to the appointment of the
Committee, as that would be to imply that the measure which he
had brought for was open to the imputation of violating
the law.
Sir J. NEW POE.T supported the motion.
Mr. ROSE opposed it.
Mr. DA Nias, wthont giving any decided opinion on the question
at large, said he should certainly vote thr the enquiry.
After sonic further remarks, the Houc divided—For Mr. Tier-
ney's motion, 59 ; against it, 152—Majority, 93.E
Sir If...Mosereom Ens,' gave notice, that on Friday, the 9th of
April, he should move a Resolution that the Natives ot Luba
should be allowed the free exercise of Oleic Religion.—Adjourned.