The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-02-21 00:00:00

ELEC HON LAWS AMENDMENT HILL.

Mr. littoouvr4 brought up the Report of the
Committee on the Election Laos .linetolment li 11.
On the reading of the alterations agreed to iii the
Committee—

The SPEAKER observed, that the aniesoltrients
made there were numerous, and that this oils the
proper stage to object to them, if at was judged
necessary.
General TtioaraTux said. he had an objection to
one clause, hut hr huprd the Hors. Mover would
have no °frier:lion that the Bill be reprinted and re-
committed. He was sorry the subject was brought
forward of so early an hour.
Mr. W. WyNN replied, that he slid slot consider
this proposition rea.oirablr. Any objections remain-
ing, might be urged on the third reading; and to
give time to exa 11l il re accurately the amendments,
lie had postponed the third reading till Monday
se'onight. He had declared, last night, he would
introduce the Report as early after four o'clock as
possible.
On the amendment being put, to lill rip re certain
blank with the .ber " four hundred"—

General THORNTON said, he must ohject to this
part of the 1111! ; tl.was inconvenient to 'ln soon the
thin' reading, its the lull was then eto4ros.ell.
Mr. W. %I'Ytis replied, that amendstients could!
be proposed and agreOd to on the third as well as
the second reading.
Sir WILLIAM BUItIIOUtINS ocsid, thin was a MC:I-
mire of great importance introduced on the eve of
a General Election ; it wrist' general innovation on
the ancient law to take libest at once, without the
experieuce of its effects on any particular occasion.
Ile thinsOit it trenched on the rights of electors,
and the !louse was bound to guard their rights. us
much as to provide fur the convenience of Alembars.
The chime firopo4l might produce two material
evils—it might depuive the non-resident voters of
their rights—and it might cause the Candidate nut
the choice of a borough to he returned, by produc-
Mg all his voters on the first days, mid making un-
Gitentleil idijections to the vises or his antagonist.
It might cause the hitter etlect in counties also.
The Hon. Baronet was pruceedilbg to suggest an
A menilment,

The SPEAKER obterved. it could nut now be done
regtileitly.
Aries conversniimi between Sir W. Hu ItROUGIIB,
Mr. littot:DßN, Mr. W. WYNN, unit Geutrail
Tiinust oN, the Amendment wce rattled.

On 'Handier Amendment bring
pnt—
S W. BURROUGHS oppwed it ou the ground or

.~

nt an opportunity to the Refartiiitg"Offieer
Ping partiality to one candidate. He was
r tit live 4149 phintill be allowed at the end
poll, to tleierttlitte on the legality of votes
and refused.

Mr. W. WYNN thqttglit that this practice, if
made general, might lead to most indirect prise-
-11(44. But in many cases, the regidation the Hon.
Baronet desired to establish. had :already ob.
taint(l. In casts where ►uclt n regulation was
called for. it might be said to be the tow already.
The lion. Baronet spoke of a cmt►dnlatr htiugiug tip
his ',Werra. Nr apprekewhal it %vas a practice not
recognised in this country. Ile had once heard of
its bring done on a fatal occasion ill Ireland, when
one of the citudidates was a•kell by the opposite
party to cX puitg,t: a cumber /if votes ',oiled lOr him,
without the knowledge of tlisir landlord. But it
was tint known to the Constitution. %Vhat was
'imposed timild defeat the object of the Bill itself.
After 41 few words from Sir W. Iluuttouutts and
Mr. %Victim, the atnendiuent was negatived.
The Bill was then ordered to be eng.o•srd. and
the thiril reading fixed fur Monday se'linight, pro-
vided the Bill he then engrossed.
A message from the Lords antiounced they had
agreed, without any Amin lineuts, to tl a 8.11 h r
granting to his Majesty flinty millions, to be raised
by Exchequer Bills ; also to a Bill for coutinuing
for another year the ditties grati:ed to his Majesty
by a late Act upon 11,dt, Sugar, Tob4cco, and
Pensions.

Ou the motion or Mr. LustitNGTON, it wt►e
agreed th.ti on 11$ rising the Iluti.e do adjourn
until Monday item.
On the motion or Mr. BEKNETT, the Chimney
Sweepers Bill was read the third time, and passed.
Mr. BROUGHAM presented a Petition front sun-
dry of the inhabitants of Sundt.' land, in favour
of the Bill regulating the practice of sweeping
chit:wit-v. He also presented a Pe►itiou from the
tanners and leather dealers in the ancient town of
%Vinel►elsea, against the excessi►•e they on leather,
stating, that since the double dilly had been
imposed,- the aggregate produce of the tax 11.1(1
duuiuiahed, being in the year 1814. 700.0001.
whilst it now did not amount to moor tluul 500,000/. ;
and praying that the late Act, imposing the double
duty, might he repealed—hotl► of winch Petitions
Were read, and ordered to lie on the table.