The National Register.
London, England, 1821-06-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

that the course which he was about to take would expo. e
him to some unpopularity—but the conduct of the Chief
Baron of the Exchequer, Leland, was P•pot. et§ of in the
commissioners' report. His present motion was 'Unaided
on the report and the Chief Baron's own letter. Several
acts passed to prevent exactions, returns of fees in 1715
being required—the returns of 1715 and 1734 forming the
inundation of the report, and his present prucecoing.—
After this introduction, which lie had considered requisite,
lie Caine to the year IMI4, when the cominissiun was ap-
pointed—a commission obtained in spite of the opposition
of ministers, and which would be the means ,of accom-
plishing retinal in their courts. The appointment of the
commissioners, hoe ever, reflected credit on the govern-
ment—they had acquitted themselves with ability and
ii.flexible integrity. The fees taken in the Com tof Ex-
chequer, Ireland, according to the 9th page of the report,
were 9ti fees receivable, only 13 of %chic.., were at the rate
of 1734, 19 were without precedent, and there weir 38
increased. The hon. member then described some of the
fees. He first spoke of the fees taken from the sheriffs on
paying their accounts. The act said what they should
he, yet there had been an increase. 'flue tutu filled by
the act was Iss. hod. This fact formed the ground work
of his first resolution. His second resolution declared,
that since 1915 the Chief Baron received a fee for a cer-
tain species of writ for putting his signature to it ; and al-
though such fee was demanded, the signature was rarely
put to the writ. The signature was said to be requisite, and
yet was not appended, at least lint very seldom. The next
charge against the learned lord was respecting decrees.
There was a double duty charged, and it was charged on a
document that never had any existeuce. There was a prac-
tice of taking fees on the decree at the commencement of
wits; so that the fees were paid whether the suits neat to
decrees or not. The abandonment of suits made no ditference.
He 111S0 noticed a practice of taking certain fees imposed in
Irish currency in lb itibh cut rency, which put into the Chief
Baron's pocket en advantage of eight and per cent.
That was a serious grievance on the suitor. He came rext
to the question of hills of cost., where fees were charged in
cases where bills Of custs had never been made out. The
bare statement of such fact was sufficient. The present
Chief Baron had authorised this charge. 'floe restitutions
expressed no opinion, they only re-asserted what was set
forth in the report, calling en the house to institute enquiry.
The csmonissioners had done their duty, let the house do its;
anti if they were really disposed to correct abuses, let them
min the ciumnissioners' lateens to some account.—He con-
cluded% it h reading the seriessif resolutions already described.

AUSTRIAN LOAN.—Mr. R. SMITH rose to move the
production of a paper alluded to in die despatch which bad
been sent from iennat to tot his country by Lord Stewart, on
%lac sth of February. MIS. This despatch contained the
reasoning of Prince Metternich and Could Stadison, in op-
position lo the payment of the debt doe by Austria to
this country. 'He called upon the house to rescue the Em•
peror of Austria ftom thi• libel on his honour and reputation
contained in the despatches of Lord Stewart. lie must emi-
elude that the behaviour attributed to Austria in those des-
patches was attributed without foundation, for lie never
could believe that the power which called itself the chief of
the Ifoly Alliance: could he guilty of conduct, which, in the
ordinary transactions of life, would receive the na oc of
swindliog. The hon. gent, concluded by moving that the
paper to which he bud referred in the outset of his speech
be laid on the table.

The Marquis of LON DON DERRY certainly thought that
Austria would stand ill in the eyes of the if she denied
the debt until she rece'ved a quieing (acquittance) from this
couutry. But he was of opinion that it a mild only preju•
dice the interests of this country when the period should
arrive for an nrrangetuent with Austria, if the house were
now In interfere.

Mr. W A ItRE observed, that however poor Austria might
he at present, she round money not long since to equip an
army against Naples. He admitted, that in the present
state of the country, tiny relief from any quarter would be
important; but still he saw many objection+ to the produc-
tion of the paper now moved for. 11 she did nut deny the
debt altogether she might put it in course of payment in •
certuiu nieuber of scars. lie (Mr. Ward) would expect
nothing frost the fairnts,s the honesty, or the gratitude of
Attetriu; he relied only upon her fears; upon the valueshe
set on the r'riend+hip of England; that friendship was too
important to bier to be abandoned, even fur the sa.e of •
Stlceissful fraud.

Mr. It. SMITH, after what had passed begged to with
draw his motion.

The house alterwrirds went into n committee of supply, in
n hid, the remaining Iri•h and miscellaneous estimate, were
pursed. Report to-aiormw. The remaining orders having
1,o;II divined of, the twilit uctjourued.