The National Register.
London, England, 1818-05-24 00:00:00

ra S D .

On the third reading of. the Saving Bank Bills, Mr. LAMB
strongly objected to the cllnse new introduced into the Bill,
by which the deposits of individuals were coctined to 501. for
the fist year, and 151. for each succeeding year. The Hon.
Member was of opinion, this restraint would tend materially
to injure the Saving Pants. tie should therefore move to
omit this clause, and leave it as it at present stood.
Mr. P. Moene presented a Petition firm the Proprietors
of Drury-lane Theatre, stating, that, from unforeseen cir-
cumstances, they had incurred a debt which they were unable
to discharge, and praying for leave to bring in a Bill to enable
them to give recurity fur the same. The Petition was ordered
to be referred to a Committee.
The Bank Restriction Bill was read a third time and sent
to the Lords By the previsions of this Bill, the restriction
on the cash payments by the Bank is extended to the 3th of
July ISI9. hi the course of the discussion on the 3d reading,
Mr. Lushiagton, in a reply to a question put to him by Mr.
Tierney, stated, that the 9,000,0001. advanced to Government
by the Bank would be timid in the coarse of the present
year.
DISCUARGF. OF MR. FERGUSON,

Lore X. llAsir Lk.° N moved that Air. T. Ferguson should be
brought to the bar of the House tonnurrow, in under to his
being discharged.—Agreed to.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Sir R. HERON rose to bring forward his Motion on thcssnb-
ject of Reform in Parliament. liis object would be to reader
the House, in tact, what it was in name, the CoMmmis House
of Parliament. rat one period, the corruption of Elections
was so universally allow,A, that it was considered necessary
to pass the Act called the firrenville Act, to restrain that cor-
rnption. A right ut petitioning, and tribunals fer judging,
were erected; but the expense of petltioning was so great,
that individuals were in many cases unable to seek justice.—
tie was aware of the objections which were made to the
question of Reform, whenever it was brought forward. .1f
brought forward in a time of prosperity, it was said we wanted
no Heforns; if brought fortrard in a time of distress, the
danger of attempting innovalion at such a period was urged
against it. • Another argument against it was, that no two
persons agreed on any plait of Reform; but that was no reason
why we should not go on into enquiry. Parliaments elected
every 3 years was the object of his motion. He watt not favour-
able to annual Parliaments ; he did not consider they were
fitted to the present times, though they had suited the reign
of a Mary and a Henry. After the Retribution, Parliarneets
were made triennial, aml so they contrirried down to I7lt,
when eirrcrinistances arose which caused the duratiou of Par.
limns:at to-be extended to seven guars. The•Septermial Bill
was introdireed at a titee•ef with the avowed
intention of strengthening the Crown ; but I his was a tempo-
rary insurrection, and the measure- adopted to meet it ought
also to have been temporary. The Hon. Gentleman concluded
by moving for leave to bring it: a Bill to repeal the Scpteu_
Mal Act.
Sir S. ROMILLY fully agreed in the motion of 114 Honour-
able Friend.
Mr. W. SMITH was also in favour of the motion ; and he
particularly rejoiced in having this opportunity of declaring
His sentiments on ono of the most flagitious acts of tyranny
and injustice that ever was commuted; namely, that of a
Parliament elected for three years deciding that it would
exist for 61.Ve11.

LwyTtvrox mentioned the case of a foreigner of con-
siderable property, who was sent out of the country at four
lots notire. This pei son was not accused of plotting against
this country. .This measure had a very bad effect on the liberty
of this count y
Mr. BATUURST said, the person alluded to by the last
Speaker was not scut out of the country tor plotting against
the Government, but for practices dangerous to the peace of
the country.
Sir S. lto m ILLY Said, this measure would arm this Govern.
ment against a certain political party, obnoxious to fort ign
Governments. Ilia only view of this measure was, that we
were the agents and willing slaves of the tyranny of foreign
Golltilltnelils. It tad been said that Ministershad notasbused
this power but were Ministeis•such idiots as to abuse the
ex.tension•of power acquired by them in their system of gra-
dually depriving the people of their liberties? ?louse who
would vote fur this measure on such grounds, would have no
objection that Proclamations should have the force of laws,
provided the posvix were not abusint
Mr. Set jeaut COPLEY considered this Bill was highly neces-
sary.
." .

Sir. J. MACKINTOSH contended that there ought to be acorn.
mon right of 111 all the States of. Europe. At hail hem/
argued that the moral characte.r of someindividitals, exiled by
foreign -12.11iUlIS being bad, this measure was necessary.
more dangerous def.:trine than this could not be. He felt
great soil ow at the carelessness and gaiety with which this
House treated such subjects, so vital to the inthrtsts of a de-
fenceless set et men. In former times, it was our boast and
glory to be despised by 'pants and slaves, because we did
not possess the power of acting tyrannically. But now, this
Bill was passed to keep the bellow Dwarfol the Netherlands,
and two other Newspapers, and 36 exiles, from coming iitto •
this country.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contencle, that the prerogative
of the Crown to send out Aliens from the country existed by
tli coalition law, and by Magna Charts, which says, that mer-
chant foreigners may come lute the country, unless prohibited ;
slicwing clearly,. that the.lkiaig .had the power of that prohibi-
tion. This measure was one of expediency; and was the
!:louse prepared to say, that this country should be trade
the depot tor all the turbulent and mischievous spirits of
Europe
The House then divided—For going into the Committee '39
--Against 32--Majority b 7. •
The HOMO then went into the Committee„when it was pro-
posed to till up the blank with the words " two years" for the
duration of the Bilf.—Agreed to.—Adjourned.

WEDNESDAY.
A Petition was presented by 'lr. P. Moore from Coventry,
praying for an effectual Reform in Parliament, and that the
Members shoidd render au account of their stewardship to
their constittients. _ .

Mr. BUINET brought up the Report of the Committee to
inquire into the state of contagious fever in die metropolis.
The Committee had coned, that in last year the ineiease of
fever had been sevenful,l.—The House would learn with s r-
prize, that in most of the h ...entail, the habit was, to mix co:-
tagiotts lever patients with common lever patients. Some-
times, therefore, fever was generated among the patierts
themselves, of which nurses, surgeons, physicians, and
dents, had died. It was therefore recommended to Govern•
meat to give an additional sum of 2000!. to the Fever institu-
tion, in order to increase their number of beds front 6! to
IPO ; which would <nline them to remove the fever patients
fronithe ordinary hospitals altogether. The Report was vi.
tiered to he printed.
lord A. Hann:run moved that Thomas Ferguson he
brought to the liar of. the Home, in order lobe discharged.
Mit had not known that it was the ordinary duty of the
Speaker to repeiniand a person in Mr. Ferguson's situation.
he should have felt it his duty to have moved a special rein L.
mood for his otletiee.
Mr. l'ergaison being brought to the bar,
St*L.t hEit stated the offence of which he had been de.
elated guilty by the House, and which it had voted to in a
corrupt attempt to influence the election of a Member of
Parliament, mid a high breach of the pet v ileges of that
House. .Yet the House, in consideration of his toll acknow-
ledgurent of his offence, dna hoping that hip plinishinelit would
operate as a warning to himself, and an example to others,
had ordered him to be discharged on payment of Wafers.
Mr. Ferguson was then taken from the Hai. •
WEST IN DIA SLAVES.

Eir S. ROMILLY rose to move that certain papers, relative
to the treatment of Slaves in the island of Nevis, should be
ieferred to a Committee. Er was surprised to understand
that this Motion was to be opposed. It related to the treat-
ment of slat vs in the island be had Lamed; especially or t
)utaths, who bad beau vuutabetl, ea appeared, wtth great at,

MA? 9:4.

verity. They were charged with receiving stolen goods;
namely, some stockings stolen by a slave from a black woman.
This crime ilest.t.e.t puniss ; but they were pueislied
with excessive seselity,one receiving 100, and the other 8J
lushes. During the pouishinesit, two female slaves, one the
sister, the other the half sistcP, of the young men,-werts pre-
sent. and overcome by their feelings, they shed tears. For
this exprestiinn of feeling they were punished by their mas-
ter, one 25, the other with 20 lashes, with a cart whip.
ror this cruelty the twister, by W!tOFC order the punishment
was inflicted, was indicted ; when, though all these farts were
proved by evidence, yet, upon a bare allegation nfhia COllll-
- that the women bad nut Wept from grief, but that they
had sl;(.13.11 symptoms of riot, and further, that they were at
negro dance in two days afterwards, he, was acquitted ; and
that in the face of evidence which went to prove that the men
and women were both treated with so much severity that the
Wood streamed from them. Now papers relative to this
transaction, and notes of the trial of Mr. Huggins, the master
of the sieves alluded to, haul been sent to this country, and
these were some of the papers lie wanted ; but he also wanted
the minutes of the proceedings of the Assembly in which this
matter had been discuseed. The Assembly of the island con-
sisted of 12 persons, where Mr. noggins attended as one of
ti'e Assembly, and made a speech, which the Assembly so
tench approved of, that they ordered it to be mum ed on their
Journals : hut of whom did the Assembly consist who took
this impartial review of Mr. Huggios's conduct? 'Why, the
Siueaker, sae of Mr. fsluggins's bail for this offence, Mr. Hug-
himself', two of Mr. lloggins's own sans; his other bail,
t- physician of the island, who was also Mr. Huggins% phy-
sician, and. several other individuals, his friends. Yet the
o; Miura of this Assembly was that on which this govern-
ment were desired to form an estimate of Mr. Huggins%
Lemanity, which was described as most extraordinary. This
paper hO also wished to have, that the House might also have'
na opportunity of inquiring into, and judging ..f that docn-
mutt. The Hon. Gentleman observed, that it' Mt. Hoggins's
l umanity was so great, it would be fur his honour to have his
conduct fully investigated. lie could not perceive any dan-
ger which could occur from such an interference as this be-
tween master and slaves. Of Mr. Huggins' humanity, he
knew nothing but by report; but it had been stated, that after
the punishment of the men was complete ; he said, " Now
bring out the ladies ;" and whilst they were under punishment
he exclaimed several timer, in tt taenfing tone, " Now cry !"
The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for the appoint-
ment of a Select Committee, to inquire' into the treatment of
slaves in the island of Nevis •' and that the papers transmitted
to the Secretary ofState,and to which he bad alluded, should
be submitted to that Committee.

Mr. G01.80134:1 could not consent to the production of the
papers, but on one condition. Mr, Huggins had already been
tried by a competent tribunal, and acquitted. He had no
objection to the papers alleded to being referred to a Com-
mittee, as a eubjeet around for general enquiry, if the Hon.
tient. weeld so shape his enquiry as not to revise end retry,
Isnot: inane:feet printed evidence, a case decided by a com-
petenyribunal, on viral-ace evidence.
Mr. VV11.131:11FORcli contended, that the House had the
power, Red it was the duty of Parliament, to watch over the
administration of
,ittstiee, built in the colonies and elsewbei e.
The Hon. Gentletaaii commented in strong terms, on the Imo-
ceetting which had taken place in the case now under con-
sideration, end contended, that it was a case which called
imperimeily for inquiry. He was ready to allow the neces-
aity there was for the mother country watching over the
colonies; but lie highly deprecated these sorts of discussions
--these exaggerated details and statements, which were pro-
doctive of the greatest mischief in the colonies. Slavery
was not a new system iu the colonies ; it was old, and founded
on opinion ; and if Parliament wished to put an end to it, let
them do as they did in other eases, indemnify the planters for
their vested interests, which might be done by renewing the
Income Tax fur In or 12 years, and put an end to sKtvery
altogether. The best system of putting an end to it had, how.
ever, been adopted already, namely, stopping the siopplies.—
Vilder all the uircuinstances of the ease, be did not see any
new light which could be thrown upon it by the appointment
of a Committee, and therefore lie should oppose the Mu.
tics.

Mr. BAR 'vim conskiered it as a great evil, that there were
so many separate legislatures in the West India Islands. He
thought it would he most desirable to have Nevis and some
other of the sn:all islands consolidated. He was convinced
the ends of justiee would be greatly forwarded by such a
measare. In tl•e larger islands, the state of the slaves was
not inferior in any respect to that of the peasantry of this
tuantrv.
Mr. i.:outrescii thought if justice was not to he olitained
e;scwhere, it ought to be found in the British House ot*Coni.
••:ons. lie thought an enquiry ought to be held, to see how
,;.iiitice was ndministoreii in the colonies.
Mr. IVAR E alliillatlVer^d in strong terms, on the charac-
ter and conduct uf Mr. Huggins, and gave the Motion his
tapport.
W. SwiTir d:11 not believe any mischief could ever
nrise from such discussions taking place in the House. For
his part, he dill not consider the House could be more legi-
timately or more beneficially employed than in this enquiry.
lie gave the Metion his roiliest support.
Mr. BAUHAM explained. In soying that the slave in sonic
'situations was better cif than the English peasant. he only
Limit that he was better fed, bettor clothed, better lodged,
and that in many instance+ crimes were pniiiMed with less
severity ; but he Het' vr for a moment intended to place him on
an rituality with a free horn man.
Sir S. KOMILLY replied. In the coarse of which he corn.
rnented in strong terms on the conduct of Huggins in order-
ing the nagging of the poor females for shedding tears at wit-
nessing the punishment of their male relatives. He denied
that any thing hal been shewn to justify the cry of insubordi-
riation. The Motion was then agreed to. Adjourned.