The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

440

UMW
at present, the terror at a criminal information was kept hanging
over a masi's head. The first clause enacted, that no i formation
should be filed by his Majesty's Attorney-General within the United
Kingtiom of Great Britain and Ireland, unless such information
should
be so hied, OT exhibited within a given time, the precise number of
months to be specified in a future state of the Bill, after the misde-
ineanour or offence done or committed. That was the purport of the
first clause ; and the second clause enacted, that if any information
filed or exhibited ex-officio, be not proceeded upon, and the defendant
brought to trial within so many months, next atter the day of such in-
forminion, all further proceedings upon the same information shall,
atter the expiration of that time, cease and determine, except such trial
shall, upon cause shown, have been postponed by any rule or order of
the Court of King's Bench. Such were the contents of his Bill, and
he did not think it necessary to enter upon any anticipation of objec-
tions that might be made to it.
Lord ELLENBOROUCii, in a very argymmtative speech, replied.
Loids ERSKINE 4111 STANHOPE supported the Bill.
Lord HOLLAND, repl.ed, and the House divided on the question for
the second reading of the Bill. Contents, 7 ; Non Contents, 16—
Mojori, y, 9.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.
The Temporary Insolven► Debtors Bill for England was read a third
time and p.isbtd.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, JULY 13.
A number of Petitions frorn ditKrent places were presented by va-
rious Members against the Nightly Watch Bill, all of which were
oroered to lie on the Table
The Malt regulatio, Bill was read a third time, and passed.
The Army Prize Money Bill, and the Life Annuity Bill, were
read a third time, ai;d passed.
VOTE OF CREDIT.
The CietaceLLoß of the Excmtou ER brought down the following
MCSaithe :
"G P. R.
" The Prince Regent. in the name and on behalf of his Majesty,
considering the very great importance of affairs, and the necessity of
providing for such emergencies as may arise, and relying on the zeal
and affectionate experience oti his faithful Commons, recommends to
the House to take such measures as may tend to disappoint and defeat
the enterprizes and designs of the enemy, and as the exigencies of af-
fairs may require."
The Message was ordered to be taken into consideration to-morrow.
PRIVY PURSE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for leave to bring in
a Bill to enable the Keeper of the Privy Purse to transfer certain pro-
perty of his Majesty, vested in the Public Funds. The object of
the Bill was to authorize the Commissioners to distribute certain por-
tions of the monet allotted to the Privy Purse, in the manner con-
formable with the Royal inclination.—Leave was given to bring in the
Bill,

THE LATg DISTURBA NCES.
Lord CASTLIRLAGit moved the second reading of the Bill for the
better pr: servation of the Public Peace throughout the Kingdom.
Mr. Vt. HITIIRLAD objected to the second reading of the Bill, on the
ground that it proceeded upon false enactments. The Bill stated,
" that arms were industriously concealed." There was no evidence
before the House of Commons to prove that allegation, and the only
evidence before the Committee was documentary, derived from certain
Magistiates who had received anonymous information to that effect.
Those very Magistrates were in salt a state of consternation, that
their evidence could not be depended upon. From the whole of their
conduct, there was no ground to suppose that the laws in force had
bent vigorously executed. He then took occasion to recommend to
his A4:*jesty's Ministers to take this opportunity of ascertaining whe-
ther peace could not be made upon honourable terms. He thought
this a most favourable opportunity. Sooner, h.,wever, than make
peace on any other than honourable terms, he would risk the exter-
initiation of the British Empire.—(Hear, hear !)
Mr. SMITH supported the Bill.
Mr. M FITZGLItALD observed, that those who gave credit to the
testimony bcniie by the Honourable Gentleman who hail just sat
down, to the state of the country, and to the consternation excited
by the late tumults, bould not concur with the Honourable Gentleman
who had. preceded him ; that the measure itself was founded on the
assumption of a necessity which did not really exist. If the subject
of ',cwt. had any connexion with the question before the House, it was
this only--that it was, a subject which he should have thought on such
on occasion every Honourable Member would wish to avoid. Con-
liCiOnS as every man in that House, except the Honourable Gentleman,
must be, that peace, on honourable terms, could not be obtained at
the present moment, he was persuaded that no one but the Hon
Gentleman would have adverted to the topic; although he was glad
to hear the Hon. Member declare, that unless on proper and honourable
Urns, peAce ought not t, be concluded. Adverting to the observations
made by the Honourable Gentleman who had spoke last, lie observed,
that the temporary nature of the Bill not the ideas of that Honourable

21ULY 19.

ctions to th
Gentleman, and as to that Honourable Gentleman's ohj
provision by which the Magistrates were empower( d to search
arms, it ought to be recollected that in times ot danger the inconve
etice, and even the ordinary rights of individuals, must be
bend to the public safety.
Sir F. BURDETT denied that the speech of the Honourable Gentle.
man, who had just spoken, had at all shaken the arguments of the
Honourable Gentleman near him (Mr. Whitbread). He concurred
with that Honourable Gentleman in thinking, that there was nothing
in the evidence before the House which warranted the recital in the
preamble, or which justified the necessity of the Bill itself.
Mr. GRANT declared, that in voting for the measure before the
House, he should not deeei himself guilty of any innovation on the
Constitution. He supported the Bill, not because he thought the
exigency ot the occasion required any departure from the principles of
the Constitution, but because he thought that it required the assurnp.
tion of those energies which belonged to the Conzaitution, anti were
as essential to it, as the minor and ordinary qualities of every div
practice.—(Hear, hear, hear !)—All that was requested was to giveto
the Magistracy the means of meeting the occasion as it stood. He re.
peated, that it was not proposed to introduce any thing new,—anv
thing unknown to the Constitution; but solely to call into exerci,,e
those powers belonging to the Constitution, the exercise of which ne-
cessity demanded. It was the Constitution which he invoked. He
invoked it in behalf of themselves—he invoked it in behalf of the men
whose lives were in jeopardy—those deluded people who, under the
treacherous guidance of designing and desperate individuals, were in
danger of being hurried into excesses of the most criminal nature:
to assume the energies which belonged to the occasion ; to overtake
the rapid march of crimes, to whose speed the low pace of ordinary
justice was not equale-and to arrest in its progress the career of sedi-
tion and anarchy.—(Hear, hear !)—These were principles•not row for
the first time broached. They were principles which had always een
recognised by our ancestors. They were principles as old as our liner.
ties. They were principles constitutional, social, and unive:aal.
They were principles which 11,1. built up our freedom, and which
bound it together. They were principles which operated in all places
and on all societies, whether of individuals or of whole nations.,-
(Loud and general cries of Hear, hear, hear !)
Mr. FRANKL AND would trouble the House but for avery short pe.
riod, lest he should weaken the effect of the admirable address which
they had just heard. I t was his opinion, that from time to time. a
moral, like a physical epidemic, passed across the world, and that
from causes, as invisible in the one as in the other, some obstrucion
in the circulation, or some inflammation, produced an irritatiel,
which, mixed with other considerations, required powcrful meth.
cia e e—(A laugh !)—I t might appear a ridiculous illustration, but is
was a just one. This figure he pursued at some length, and con-
cluded an able speech, by declaring he should vote for the Bill.
Mr. 8R0VC11.1144 commenced with complimenting the speech of the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Frankland), which, how-
ever, he felt himself incapable of describing ; .it was too learned fo; a
speech, and too long for a presc,iption.—( A laugh.)—lf indeed it leis
a prescription, it was long enough to physic an hospital. He should
not follow the Honourable Gentleman through the whole nnitena
m edico of his address, but differing fro him as far as he untierteed
him, he had no hesitation in saying that the remedy would be wooe
than the disease.
Mr. BANK ES was apprehensive that the present measure woeld e
ae;
be found CO go fir enough ; he should,-however, give it is vote,
in th
hope that his fears would wove vain. •
Lord A LTIIORP opposed the Sill. The original cause of the distur.
bances being done away, by the revocation of the Orders in Council,
lie thought such a measure as the present unnecessary.
Mr. W. BOOTLE contended, that the Magistrates were entitled to
the favour and protection of that House.
Mr. STEPHEN declared the measure was, in his opinion, perfectly
constitutional, but tearing as he did, that it would not go far enough,
he should have felt it is duty to propose some provisions of a strong
' er
nature but for the pledge given that Parliament would again be ae
sembled if such should appear to be necessary.
Mr. LAMBE was in favour of the provision for putting down to*
multuous meetings, icc. but he should oppose those authorising
searching for arms.
hoped, and
peace,Nir Whetrespect•
tiia
that
twheno theth edyi sltvuerrbee raswoafk
trusted,With
their delusion, and had a proper sense of the valuable blessings wil!
they enjoyed, they would return to their duty like true Englishmen
(Hear, hear, hear !)—He, spoke in praise of the magistracy 012.'.
country, and supported the sill, at the same time expressing 27°'
that the clause, authorising a search for arms, would be ineffectll_
The House divided. For the second reading, 131 ; Against it,
Majority 115. tehneedPitibrolciincl
Ihe Bill was then read a second time, and committed .L.t
morrow.

FRENCH PRISONERS.
• Lord Cs airt.zasAo H rose, for the purpose of moving a repeal of tile
laws relating to the aid given in effecting the escape of French
soners of War. As the law now stands, which the Noble Lhe ord
cr ar
ob,e
served, called loudly for the interference of Parliamt ;
it
was only made a misdemeanour ; the object which he had
n view 41