The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-09 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY.

•
SUPPLY.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the order of
of tha day for going into the Committee of Supply, to which
he moved that various accounts of Exchequer•bills should be,
reterred.

Oat the question for the Speaker's leaving the chair, Lord
FOLMEsTONE made some observations on recent alterations
in the mode of proceedings in the House, as to the in. r
of publishing the votes. The change was in some respects
conveni-tit ; bitt he saw souse objections as to the not piloting.
of petitions, sinless the printing of them was ordered by vote.
The pinning of those petitions certainly tended to delay the
publication of the votes. Yet it wt's possible that it might
be injurious to the people, and therefore he regretted its
tendency in that way. Ihe printing of the votes of the house
liras the only regular way in which their proceedings were
trade public to the country at large. He should do no more
than mentiou the circumstance, hoping that the House would
never be inattentive to petitioners.
The Speaker then left the chair ; and Sir G. WARRENDER
rose and mentioned that there were some small increases in
some of the public charges. Of these, in the Admiralty de.
partment, some arose from expenses at St. Helena, and on the
Smith American station; but all the estimates had beet' found-
ed on mature consideration. Gentlemen must he aware that
an increase had occurred in point of wages to seamen, by the
employment of those of a superior description. The number
employed was smaller its proportion as to the men. A5O gun
ship might, during war, have required 300 men, but in peace-
be reduced to 300 men, although the numberof guns remained
the same. It was proper to notice this, in looking at the
charges of ordnance. He then moved for 20,000 seamen for
13 lunar months, which was agreed to ; also fur granting the
sum of 611,0001. for pay; for 520,0001. for victuals, 0.c.; and
for a sum for wear and tear, wnich motions were also carried.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose, and intimated
his intention to propose a replacement of money under the
grant of 24,000,000 of Exchequet.hills, and also a further
grant of nine millions. He begged to stale, that the amount
of Excliequer.hills was now less than had been predicted by
some Gentlemen. It had been said, that on the sth of Jan.
IBIS, they would be at 60 millions : but lie was happy to say
that they were three millions and a half less than that. They
amounted onl f to 50 millions and a half, and a small stun more.
That was the whole amount. Ott the other hand, it was to he
considered that the funded debt had increased 19
Instead of a deficiency in revenue, there was a diminution of
public debt. He moved for the sum of 23 millions, on the ac•
einnt of Exchequer-bills issued.
Mr. Tie:neer observed, that there was some difficulty in
understanding the estimates and their results. The charges
on the unburden debt must be paid off. The total amount
ef stock in the hands of the Commissioners had never exceeded
15 millions. Tile motion was then agteed to.
Further conversation ensued, in which Mr. TIERNEY re-
quested to know, what was the amount of ont.standing F..x•
chequer-bills ou account of deficiency of revenue.
The Crieseet.i.oft of the Excuistavett could noeglien ex.
actly aus wet.; butt, as we understood him, he belieeteekvot
above 1,000,000.
On the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S motion, a vote
was passed fur 9,6044000 on outstanding Eachequer.Lillsqtt
441
funded ; also for 6,000,000 on Exchequer-bills tot 1,. -
standing and not provided for. e • • 4
The CHANCELLOR of the ExCHIQUEtt observed, tIII/4, those
woe a surplus of 3,009,000 last year, considering the operas kr&
respecting the reduction of toe funded debt. The issue of
Exchequer-bills had hems 12,000,000 more last year than us
the year proceeding.
Mr. (Mims mss rejoiced to understend that only 3,000,000
core had been added to the public debt.
The CHANCELLOR of the Exeneuumt said, that the Hot.;
Gentleman might still have greater ICASUII to re Juice, bias.
/wick as there was not an addition 43,000,000, but, in the true
•iew of the subject, a saving to that autumn. Ihe motions
were passed in the Committee. . . _

Mr. Srtnt GE% 110 C It N E moved the renewal of the Contntiitee
ott the lour

Ur. CUIMEN expressed his objections to the existing state
of the Poor Laws in this country, the operation of which,
under all the circumstances, tended to break ilow:i the spirit
of the people. by driving them to look to the Pours' Rates as
a relief and a refuge.
Sir F. duerierr did not mean to oppose the appointment
of the Committee. He could nut exactly accord with what
had just been said. He did riot believe that any great alters.
dun had taken place in the character of the people of ibis
coubtry., bnt lie did believe that much alteration had oecurred
in their eirctunstances. They Isere, in his judgment, the
same active and industrious people ::s they had fOrmerly been;
but they tied not the .same means of being comfortable as
they formerly hail, for the want of the necessary funds. Ik
entertained no doubt that the real cause of their wants sprung
from enormous taxation. As to inquiries into the Poor Laws.
so much spoken of during the lust two years, those laws hail
existed for centuries, and while the poor were iii a much
better condition. He was not Ik I kkk self an old man, yet could
he remember, even in his own time, when a boy playdig
about his fathes'e house, that laboirring persons took pride
against coining to the poor-lionse, and even boasted that none •
of their family had ever done so. Where, then, Willa remedy
to time existing evils to be sought? It could he found only in
reduction, in retrenchment, and in economy in the application
of the politic money.
Lord CASTLYR coati remarked, that the Honourable Bart.'s
observations were more connected with the general policy
of the country, than with the particular subject of the Poor
Laws.

Mr. Elwyn'tam said, that seeing a Noble Lord not exactly
in his place (.1 laugh), lint on his way to it, he was anxious to
ask fur some iliforstiation respecting the select Cominiotre lu
be appointed. Did the Noble Lord intend to accreite !011ie
p►opusitiva which he had taken the liberty to make on the
rs t night of the eeps f Having thru oblaiuell uo satisiac.
tory answer, he Dow again asked, Nheihei the Committer to
be appointed should he furiustied chili limners to tali tin
',knower papers and every necessary source of accurate in.
formation

Lord CasTi.enEAoft replied, that it was intended to itanw
the prt;cedeut of tvittiet CllllO Of a Diuular uutnte. S4.tli

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