The National Register.
London, England, 1820-05-21 00:00:00

TCESDAY, WAY IG.

Several Lords took the oaths.
'f he Bishop of ELY presented a Petition from the owners and
occupiers of land at Wisbeaeh, in the Isle of Ely, praying relief
under agricultural distress.
The Earl of MOUNT EDGECL'MBE resented sixteen
Petitions of a similar description from the agriculturists of thc
t ounty of Comwall.—Laid on the table.
The Insolvent Debtors' Bill went through a Committee.
Lord C II on P E presented a Petition front the merchants.
manufacturers. and inhabitants of the Town of sßirmingham,
rasing the House to institute enquiry into the cause of the
dstilorable situation of the manufacturers of that town and its
Ezighbourhood. The Noble Lord adverted to the language of
tse Petition. The Petitioners did not give way to nnmanly des•
pondency. but required that the causes of that distress should
be examined.
l he Petition having been read,
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, he was desirous of
learning from the Noble Earl opposite, whether it was his
i -.tendon to refer the Petition to a Committee?
The Earl of LIVE RPOOL.—I feel no difficulty in giving the
Noble Marquis the satistisction he requires. A Noble -Friend of
raise (Lord Calthorpe) has stated. that having had communi-
cation with his Majesty's Ministers, he found it was intended in
another place to institute enquiry as to the matter of the
Petition. It is a question, however, with me, whether it is not
better to have a simultaneous examination in this House. I can
have no objection to enquiry in this, and whenever u motion is
made by any Noble Lord, I shall think it necessary to state
illy views with regard to the important object of the Petition.—
I am aware thug° satisfy the public mind such enquiry should
take place ; but at die same time I am of opinion there should
be some previous discussion on the general object. to prevent any
deception going out of this Ilouse to the public. I shall be
prepared to give an opinion on the general topic of the Petition,
IS a proposition is made to submit it to a Committee. My Lords,
I do not think the Executive Government ought to come down
to propose a measure unless they could clearly see their way in
proposing remedies of such an important nature. I cannot close
these observations without bearing testimony. in the strongest
manner. as to the temperate conduct of the mitabitantu of the
town from whence this Petition comes. I can say, that great as
the misfortunes have been which the population of that town have
experienced, they have behaved with patience, which ankles
them to every indulgence which good and loyal subjects can
claim. Among those indulgencies, that of having their grie-
vances fairly stated. and enquired into, is not the least.
The Marquis of LANSDO WNE observed, that the Petition
did not point out any remedy. but called on the House to give
their attention to the state of the country. Such an appeal would
set be made in vain, and he expected such enquiry as would
lead the House to the real situation of the country. Having
learned from his Majesty's Ministers their intention on thc sub-
ject, he should feel it his duty on an early day to submit a motion
to the HOUse; but he was fat flout thinking that such a subject
inthe hands of an individual like himself would be attended with
any beneficial effect. if it was left to him he should confine his
motion to practical points. The Noble Marquis then proposed,
that he should move. shortly after the hays. to appoint a
Committee to investigate the means of extending the foreign
node of this country. That would be but ooe view of the ques-
tion. and lie was far from thinking such a view could relieve that
House and his Majesty's Government from the important duty
of sifting to the bottom the cause of the evils. A duty more
sacred. but more extensive, never devolved on any Government.
'rite Noble Marquis said. he should give notice of his motion on
Thursday se'nnight.
East GROSVENOR intimated, that the intended enquiry
should extend not only to the manufacturing, but agricultural
distresses.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL, aid. the motion of the Noble
Marquis was to rater to foreign trade, but he was ready to admit
in stating a general view, he could not do it without adverting to
agricultural distress. At the same time it did not follow that the
:notion should be so extensive.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, if agricultural distress
was introduced, it oaglit to form a distinct point in the discussion.
—Hear, hear
The Earl of LAUDERDALE expressed himself unwilling
to cnter into any discussion on the distresses of the country.—
'fhe subject (sight to be brought forward by the Executive
Government.
Earl DARNLEY said it was not possible, in the intended die.
oussioss, to pos over the Petitions of the Agriculturists.
Lord Eitsfil NE agreed that attention ought to be paid to
the Agrictiltu,al t aersu, but the subjects ought to be separanal.
The EARL of DONOUGHMORE observed that the House
should do no sing ip mese questions without caution. He
regretted that Government did nut bring forward the distresses of
ibis country. l'..tey had tile means of being better acquainted with
the distresses of t.:ti people than the Noule Lords on this side
the House. He con.iueical it the duty of the Ministers to take
up this Petition, and prohiJse sonic means of reiief.
the Earl of LI VZ. It .3)01. reminded the House that lie had
stated his intention to oast fully into, the subject of the Peti-
tion, but he wished to .1.1.0( all explanation until the discussion
Carrie on.
The Petition WAS then laid on die table.
Lord sTA N HOPP:, pursuant to his notice, moved that a
select Commutes ue appointed to consider the ptacticability
:mil means of e iiploeiag me poor in the nianufairtuting districts.
The E.,fl of Id VERPOOL could nut give ins assent to the
motion. lie chant nut agree to it, because however benevolent
the Noble Lord's intentious might be, his projects must produce
dissettt. They went to the inure subversion of the political
interests of country. 'rhea were calculated to separate tile
interests of the inAiiiitacturer from the agriculturist, which hail
hitherto been c.o,ely connected.
After some further discussion, the motion was nsgatived. and
the HotEA:
WEDNESDAY. MAY 17.
Mr. M. A. Taylor, and other Members Isom the Commons,
brought up the Stage Coach Bill.
dL DroSdell also brought up the South Sea Company's Bill,
as:l the Irt,h Stock Transfer Bill, which were read the brat tune.
I :is Insolvtiit Debtors' Dill was read a third time and passed.
'1
• L adjourned.