The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-02 00:00:00

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Mr. IL Swsua said, that in consequence of the
provisions of • Bill of the late Mr. Whitbread, by
which all counties were called upon to provide them-
selves with standard weights and measures, the
county of Surrey had made an application to the Ex-
chequer for that purpo►e, but a great deficiency iii
measures was found to exist there. The City of London
conceived itself authorised to supply the deficiency,
and had procured those standard measures which were
wanting. The county already mentioned adopted •
similar expedient... Lind the greatest exactness had been
studied, and he believed attained, io giving both
weights and measures their clue quantities •ttd di-
mensions according to Ina. PrObrCilllolls had been
instituted. and comictiiiiis obtained, of dealers,
whose measures of sole were cbscorered to vary
from these. Hut appeals were made, some of the
convictions quashed, on the ground that the stand-
ards were not taken from the Exchequer, so that
an opportunity was thus afforded to traders using
minor weights to defraud the public. From a feel-
ing of the inconveneencies to which thrp üblic were
in this way exposed. he (Mr. Sumner) had nearly
two years ago proposed introducing some general
measure on the subject, but had postpourd ►t in
compliance with the wishes of his Majesty's Minis.
term, who were desirous that the Commission ap-
pointed on the ♦ubject should previously wake a
report. His object in rising at present was, to ask
whether the labours of that Commission were yet
concluded, or whether it w•s the intention of his
Majesty's Ministers to bring forward any general
measure to remedy the inconvenience in the course
of the Session ?

..__._ .
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER repliedi

that when he had last inquired the Cotnmiasionere
had not matte op their report. He was *ware of
the inconvenience felt in consequence of the want
of one, and if measures of a general nature were
suit proposed before the end of the Session, at least
some preliminary one should.
Mr. BEN NETT gave a notice or a motion; but,
from the low toile its which the Hose. Gentleman ex-
pressed hirosek, we were totally unable to gather
the itnport of it.

EXPIRING LAWS.
Mr. BROGDEK brought up the Report or the
Committee on Expiring Laws, which was laid un
the table.

COURTS OF JUSTICE (SCOTLAND).
Mr. H. CLIV brought up • Report from the
Commission •ppoiuted to inquire into the Fees and
Emoluments received in Courts of Justice in Scot-
land, which was laid on the table.
Lord A. HAMILTON took that opportuoity of
asking a qu►stion connected with That Report. A
former Report had stated, that it would be •d-
-visable that the office of one of the Barons of the
Exchequer should be abolished. Now he under-
stood, that a resignation by one of the Barons either
had or was about to take place: and lie was inform-
ed. that so far from any wish being manifested to
carry into effect the recommendation of the Re-
port. the vacancy was to be filled, and a fourth Ba-
ron spin appointed.
The Lose Aim/crag observed, that the ap-
pointment had already taken place.
Lord A. HAMILTON asked, who was the person
•ppoi:ded, and was informed by the Lord Advo-
cate, but the name escaped us.
The Noble Lord said, that such a step was
highly censurable in those whose duty it was to en-
force the advice of the Report. Howl expressed its
determination to bring the subject before the
House.

The LORD ADVOCATE answeced, that if a nee.
tion were made on the subject, he hoped a satisfoc.
tory answer should be given to any objections.
Sir J. NRWPOWE hoped exceedingly that his No-
ble Friend would persevere in following up his de-
clsration, and bring the matter fully before the
House. There was most just reason of coin plaint,
that no one step had been taken to realise the many
suggestions contained in the Reports of the Com-
missioners. He trusted that his Noble Friend
would go on is causing n full inquiry to be made
into the whole siibj.-ct, th it the public might see
how much of u.at compensation they had a sight to
expect. from the appointment of the Commission,
had really been obtained.