The National Register.
London, England, 1816-02-26 00:00:00

TIIE NA. TIONAL lIEGISTER.

tinned sittmg till July, the fet..rn was never made. In order
theretine, to as,ert the anti,. r,". the House., and curet ince
vs cry court in the kingdom o i the ii of obeying its
orders, he should loose an address to the throne, repre,ellllllg
that the papers iu question 11:;1 not yet been laid Leto' e the
House cotathrilialsly to the I', Mee ltegent's directions, and
pray Mg I liat the pi over officer be liter eil forthwith to produce
them, n *oh a Aateineut 01 the reasons, if any, of the delay n inch
had taken place.
Mr. W. l)t Noss would, not attempt to justify the court, if
he cancels ed :bat tile 'delay priweetled froth any disresin t to
the Numc. A return might 4.'1k:d01., to base been 'Mlle tic to
the alleged augmentation of fees, even though that return should
has t been nit." 'flierr mil, a commission now in existence
tbr inquiring into the tics taken in courts of justice, and the
lords of se•sion hail fallen into the misapprehension that it was
to these eoonuissioncrs the I,oai 11 ought to be 111311 e. lie
hoped, theiethre, the lion. Baronet •.sotild af:reee to leave out
the words VS preAsive of censure• which told only serve to les-
sen the dignity of the ciiiirt, and by these means to le,sen
its public importance and utility. the might add, as a fact,
that the sproud order bad missed its stag front the Secretary of
State's flake, and hail miser reached the vaunt of session.
Mr. lion %Ex thud:lit the fast mentioned vireo:instance, it
true, siatileiently exculpated the coon from the change of et,:-
turnery. Ile upprehended, how es er, that the lords of session
had, by what ma, culled an act of sethritut, exceeded their
power.. in assimilate a legislative authority to raise the fees of
the emirt, which was in fact to the .tit bject.
Mr. linnrcit.sM eNpleslso4 his hope that the non-compliance•
of the court would be found to have originated in misconeep-
tbinotirt in obstinacy or the insolence of office.
After some further eon% ersation, upon the suggestion of Mr.
Ponsouhy, it Walt agreed, that the words implying censure
should be omitted, as the Ilf the dehoy was at present un•
known. The question was then put and carried.
INCOME. TA X.

Mr. Tthot.tatest pre:toted u petition against the property
tax, signed by 3728 persolis, inhabitants of Cie/kens% ell. The
}lon. Member obsess ed, that the petitioners Intrably but warm-
ly represented that they had cheerfully borne the necessary
Inn.thens of war, and had exulted in the glorious success by
which it was brought to a termination, but that a fay un inconic
in a time of pearl) Mould not only be omit( sive, but altogether
intolerable. 'They concluded with an observation which he
conceived would be le-echoed through the country., that it' the
imposition of this tax was to he the result of all our exertions,
they %null' he led to question the utility of those- splemliil
victories with which the arms of the counti y had been crowned.
'The petition was then read, and orili.red:o lie 110 the table.
Mr. BARING observed, that the country was at present very
generally preparing to p; titian against the rens•vs at of this tax.
Under these circumstances, he conceived the house ought lilt
to be called on at so early a day as Monday to u vote which
would.continit them to the peace t•stabliSlinicnt. (Hear, helm.)
The public might he expected to expeixss its sentiments within
vet y few days, and be could ec no necessity for pressing the
discussion. ft delay of ten days sir a foi Night would produce
no iiiconvenience ; and he should therefore, if the emestion
wet e brought tot iaril Oft Munday, object in liminc to the nu-
tile lord entering spun it.
Mr. 11. !Stem ixi rose to move for an account of all pro.
ceiges issneil front the exchequer Mr the recut cry of taxes and
arrears of ta‘cs sine, the ist January Isla, distinguishing those
issiet•d for debts limier 51. This proreisi was by writ of terori
.faciax, und was is:tendril With great expense to the defendant.
Five cases hail conic to his knowledge, in which this process
had been taken out, where the debt was in one instance fifteen
and in the other seven shillings. t liar, k•ar.) lie was sure,
that when this return should be before the 110,114 e, it would
speak volumes as to the extent of individual distress prevail-
ing in the country.
After sonic conversation between the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, M. W. Smith, and Mr. Thompson, the motion was
agreed to ; and the Chancellor of the I:xelsequer stated that
enquiry wilald be made, whether a more summit, v and less
expi usive process could not be employed lin the ft cove:l'y of
small sums.
Sir SA MI VI. ROM MI bronght in a bill to amend the 10th and
Ilth of ilham 111. so faros lola ws to taking away the benefit
,of clergy from persons convicted of ow sling iu shops to the va-
lue of 43. Read a first time, and orslcred to be lead a second
time on Nlimslay next, and to he printed.
Lord eIICH It cal gave notice, that on vtilluStiay next, he
should call Ilie atl ention of the house to the charge gii en by the
Chief Justice of the Court of King's llent•li to the fury, w the
ease of I I, lierenger and others.
slergy resi deuce bill cot through a committee. Ad
jourticil.
rstitexT, Fr.nnt:mtv •
1:\ NCOAI E T.l X.

l'etitiona against the continuance of tho-tax on property were
rt.I.I.IIICILI from Yarmouth, 31ablen, Bat Stey nine, anu other
places, and were iespectisely ordered to lie on the table. •
Mr. 13% NG 101 l'Stflitril a similar petition from the parish of
St. Luke. Mititi:C'ex, signed by i,.ion householders, and pray-
ing the house not to sanction those itrivonstiiiitional measures
for the Mclean of a large nitlitary e.stablishment, which could
:Mw render nevi 5r...11y die ie.-imposition of sio unjust, partial,
and! erpresNil ;. hairtbrii.
'.Clr. It% sr: liken i•e presented another of the same nature
from the parish of St. MAI) Ordered to tie WI the
table. . . . . .

?W./ %)11:.5 SIIAW presented petitiuns against the property tax
fruta tlae waetlA l'oettookt 11,,1141gate, and Btslsoltgate.
%% ILL' ANI Cl wets presented petitions to tot• attic, effect
(tom the hard, of Catolteu k aid I:new:pion WI thout.-ot-
&vett to :iv 4111 the ti.nle.
Mr. tif.its: ski oN presented a petition euntainnig the
like prayer li he itilinuitants of the city ut Ituth.
Ste 't tittota% it k II pet nettled ain titiou, stir:nett by 300
nr.,, (Into iiturp, and teiltviss ut lalotl, Ulna tilt'
city ut I.xt.tue, itra)ittg lehtl anklet the present systesu ut
taxation.

The petition was then orderer' to Fir on the table. •
Sir .1
11401 AS At KLAN If pr. t.eilteil StiNiTal uu.c r petitions of
the• same .le.ciiption, ishich were ordered to he on the table.
A new witt taus roilett d to he issued for tilt• hoi (rgil of Vitr-
o out h, iu the Ipte of Wight, in lin I i.Olll of Sir Usury Mont-
gotieti , nlto 11.1.1 accepted the Chiltern lluudreds.
The oil: tor the ahonnun of the puidAstnent or the p:ltorN
Wag brought in and read a tint to he roast
second time this day 2.i:sung:Mt.
Leave of tthseriev, oil ..ecount of orirent business, fur on
month, %%bib grunted, utter Boole objection. to .tir. irrattint.

P 1.i.( ;MAKIsIi.'.

The 01Am:hi.* Inc fit lb. KUL Ell ruse, in pursuance in

. .
uotwe, to call Use atteot 44444 of the !loathe to toe colleetsoo
ut hoorhie> in the itusa•eftsioo or the Lati Toy% AI (is
the etwe of the 1 .!ett SC•SIIL/11 or Parliament, Use Noote Earl had
pi ovirltd.a.l.llltiOn 1./ the 1 bmie, oat au wpm Imo
tie 11:;•.ir iuty the value of us coil( t.tkot, which he e,,k,

TED. 211.

of selling to Goveriniamt for the nse of the II'life et. -
Cllllllsl.illeeS under which the Noute Lord had neeUlllll. possessed.
of those unttchltss pioduedons were so troll Lruwo, that oho
'tight Hon. tit:mit man world nut (volatile the Himse at any
lei th un the subject. 'they were imap.ii eft by him, ill the
moose ef his lids. to Constantinople, with the greatest et-
ertiuus, and at a very eousitlei aWC V% praise, and might be justly
considered as the Ilona solo:dile works of art that had ever
been brought from the western parts of Europe. Every person
acquainted with that I\ tilde Lord must be aware, that his ob•
ject had been solely directed to the advancement of the arts;
but being unable,from cii monist:laces %%Melo ass as then unneces-
sary to repent, to futill his munificent intentions, he Sc as natitral-
Is elusions that the public should enjoy the ads autage of his la-
hours. As to the amount ut the Irmoneration to be given to
Its Lordship, the lteeltt Hon. Gaut. wished to lease it to the
judgment of the House. The collection was too will known
lu make it necessary fur him to refer to the opinions of the
most eminent artists; it was, beyond all question, the most an-
cient and genuine that had eit'r appeared, and the cellars+
would he naturally proud of possessing .1111a55 of models fur the
:at., which the united collections ut Europe could hardly pro.
duce. The copintittee, how exer, for which lie ictended to muse,
would be imitated to call proper judges before thou. its order to
.iscer tuna the same. it was a _cued, on both shit .:oftlic House,
that, in the press ut situ:Mutt of the countrs, it was in the hist:t-
est degree dt sirahle to asoid any.unnecessary expenditure
out it should nut be forgotten, that if the present opportunity
ware missed, it might never tiever again. He saw no 'prospect
but, in the course ut a short time, these esquisite works of mit
mu-t be dispersed, or disposed of to foreign purchasers. The
House had before an opportunity of acquiring a tamable col-
lertion, and they had, for public purposes, and on pubEto
grounds, a: aifeil themselves of it. Tites had now tile offer or a
more spit ndid collection • and it was certainly Inc Of the 111011
%%0111111 till cc via. utthe lay, that the works of l'holias should
become the property of a liaise of Caledonia. The desire of
contereing honour on the arts, as w ell as on the arms of this
country w as the object of his motion; ter, of all the arts, sculp-
ture nisi at present the least flourishing in England. Its should
therefore muse, That a !select committee be appointed to in-
qui IT whether the eolleet ion of the Earl of Elgin ought to he
purchased; and if so, what price plight to be uttered for is
and that the said committee should adjourn from place to place,
that they might hose power to tXIIIIIIIIC the works of art, and
to call proper poisons before them.
lord Osschsrus thought the house should consider IA hetber
an ambassador ought to he permitted to avail hiniself of his
ulliciui character to possess such valuable wommients,and after-
wards to convert them to his own use.

Mr. Banters coneeived that the corninittee ought to inquire
into the manner in which the noble lord became possessed of
these works ut art, and the expenses which he had incurred.
Much would depend on the result of that investigation ; for it
would then appear what degree of vested right to those mar-
bles the pobhc had already acquired. In his opinion the noble
lord had obtained them in his character id ambassador, anti
not ils a private traveller ; if so,, his lordship hail no right to
dispose of them out of the country.
Mr. .tusatetromeig ogreeil that it was a matter of politic
duly not toliold out a pi ecedent to with:ass:tam s to avail them-
selves 'of their situation to obtain suet), property, and then to
convert it to their own pOrpOsv6.
Mr. GlihnOr. %stolid not enter Or all into the ruerib of loved
Elgin ou this enbity t, but thought that the present distressed
state of the country did not justify the sista Eton. Gentleman
ut snaking his motion. However desirable these marbles might
be for the promotion of the arts, it would be very impolitic
and improper at this time to incur any vinnecessai y expendi-
ture. lie Om efore wished the right lion. Gentleman to post-
pone this measure till the country had been relieved from :he
-very heavy burthems which now oppressed it.
Mr. TIEN sive said, that 110 auto could feel more anxions than
himself that these weak* of art should not be srattered user
the country, or lie sacred to lease it. II the object of the
Mutton rite to enquire whether Lot d Elgin bad become
possessed of them iu consequence of his pulsate fnuctious,Hll.l•
what expellees he had incurred, he was ready to agree to a
committee ; hut not that particular artists should be asked
what they conceived to he the value elf these marbles. lie
thought the committee should be instructc.i how they ought to
conduct themselves. It had been stated that Lord Elgin for-
merly applied to Mr. Pereeval on this subject, who offered
~;ac, die stun ill none., which Iris lordship refused. Ile did not
see. thertdote, is by the idler should be repeated ; but that an
hooray should be Instituted, as to the extent of his cxpeenlitturi:
iu procuring these marbles. Part of them was brought us cc
in ships of tsar, and euuscqucutly at the public expense. If it
were nurt ly intended to hold out encouragentetit to anthassa-
rides to eurieh their country with Ism ks of arts, then it was
creditable to the right honourable gentleman; but if he meant
that the noble lure, availing himself of his official character,
should now call himself the possessor, I,e would nut agtee tir
the motion. Ile thought it improper, in the rest lit situation
of one finances, that the holi?e should be invited to purchase
them, 'flue right hon. gentleman hail said, it was very de-
sirable to possess them. '1 his might he very. true; 111(10 were
a great many things Whirl he t.llr, Tierisey) would wish to
have, and he was sorry lie had them not ; but he was bountl to
consider his means, and the light hon. gentleman shotilil do
the same
Mr. Eosin observed, that it would be to he regretted, it' the
public lost this opportunity of old:amines a collection more Use-
fill titan any other that could be found tor the improvement of
the arts.
Mr. l'NgsioN thought, that if ambassadors were encouraged
to make these. speculations, mans might retarn home iii the.
idiatacter of thert:lrao Li. He email not consent to pay. fur the
-collection accurdisse to what might be called les value, but
only as far as it was a coniperiaat.ou to an ambassador Ihr his
expences iu procuring it.
Mr. liniment ast tilt great difficulty in iihiveing to the mo-
tion. lie could not profess troy judgment 101 l the %aloe of
matters of this description, and he was vi ry desirous that we
should possess this col.ection. After we had spent
had been said, tor our very existence as a mitten', it might be
said further that we 'night be allowed to expeod a little a
for gialification and truant. ut ; but then it could 1w stated, on
the other hood, that ve e bad nut the roi mil to allot d it. If we
had, it would he wch dispose il of iu the Orantirr proposed. Mir
sit. is cre,US a nation, iii the sittiati.tO or all ho saw
many things ut Comlio I or Olnallit Ilt s Hugh he SlltliP.ll like t,.
boy, but felt obltged to reft ant from wilt all liohilgi.ot-C, hsr
LW shoo hi (*Mb:lll..ss his affairs too mock lie had miderstood
that the 'nacho!, e ut this cone etiots would cost 40 or aO,llOOl.
and lie timid not thiuk the pry scut a Keifer time tor pt rsuag it.
%t hen tee SOW the Willits lit nudshyoncu, auJ ut so litany hurl-
-111%16 of half pay officers, who had bat the bare nue ails tof
...illy, hi. WAS led to think, that it we could um ioVe flu
lit
bread, vie might to consider well how we 1100i:ed• ours, lvte
with stones and marbles. 1k thtirfule flit much inclined
to oilje.e.