The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

mark by unanimity its high sense of the patient endurance by the Porto.
guese, of the most distressing calamities without repining, and without
a single instance of treachery, under the daring threats, or even the
barbarous cruelties eaf an invading enemy. He concluded by moving,
'6 That it is the opinion of this Committee that a sum not exceeding
two millions be granted to his Majesty to enable him to continue in his
pay a body of Portuguese troops, and so give further aid and assistance
to the Government of Portugal, as the nature of the contest in which
we are engaged may appear to require.
Mr. FREEMAN TLE agreed with Lord Castlereagh in his praises of the
Portuguese; but he could not think of voting so large a sum to support
a cause which he considered entirely hopeless, and especially in the
present distressed state of our finances.
Mr. WARD and Colonel DILLON believed it to be the interest of this
country to support the Portuguese to the utmost extent of our power.
Lord COCHRANE thought the war in the Peninstiti watt conducted on
totally erroneous principles. Instead of meeting the French on the
plains, we ought to have annoyed them by floating expeditions, which
would have swept the French from the neighbourhrnd of Cadiz, and
cleared the whole Mediterranean coast from their intrusion.
The Motion was then carried, nevi. con.
Mr. YoaKE moved the grant of 80,0001. for the purpose of commenc•
ing the construction of a Breakwater in Plymouth Sound. The esti-
mated expense of the undertaking, was 150,0001. but he was convinced
the money would be soon saved to the country, from the increased se-
curity thereby afforded to his Majesty's ships, whilst lying at anchor.
After a desultary conversation, the motion was agreed to.
On the question for the third reading of the Local Militia Bill,
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT repevred his former objections to military
punishments by flogging ; and contended, that they should not at lesst
be suffered to exist in the Local Militia. He mentioned the case of a
Mr. Taylor, a man of superior character to that of most soldiers, and
who had received a superior education. This man had been compelled
to serve in the Local Militia, and for merely writing a song, he was
tried and sentenced to the punishment of flogging. Several young men
in the. Local Militia, on another occasion, had been sentenced to 500
lashes each, for asking for their marching guinea. The Hon. Bi:ronet
concluded with moving an amendment to the effect—that the Lte.al
Militilmen should not be subjected to corporal punishment.
Colonel Wood, Mr. Goulbourne, and I .erd Palmerstone, opposed the
amendment, and argued on the impossibility of maintaining discipline if
the punishment was abolished.
The amendment was negatived without a division, and the Bill then
passed.
Mr. Timm I'SON moved for leave to bring in a Bill to declare vacua
the vats of Members of Parliament, who should become bankrupts,
and not pay their debts within a limited time.—Adjourned.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17.
Sir F. BUR nr.rr presented a petition from Samuel Fletcher, a brewer
in Westminster, complaining of sonic oppressive conduct and
proceed
ings Of the Board of Excise. The petition was ordered to he brought up
and read, when it was discovered there was no signature to it, on which
The SPEAKER said, that the petition being signed by nobody, nat
informal, and could not be received.
Mr. J. SMITH presented. a petition from the inhabitants of the mall
and county of the town of Leicester, complaining of grievances in ti.Lir
trade, in consequence of the Orders in Council. He said, that so far
from labouring under the same disadvantage as that just presented by
the. Hon. Baronet, of having no signature, this petition was signed by
11,000 persons.
Mr: BABINGTON said a few words in favour of the general conduct
of the petitioners; after which it was read, and ordered to lie the
table. •
• Mr. BRAND gave notice, that he would, on the 21st of April, make a
'motion on the subject of Reform in Parliament.
BANK NOTES.
Lord CASTLER EACH brought up a petition from the inhabitants of
. Belfast and Colerain, in Ireland, praying that the Bank Note Bill migl.t
be extended to that part of the United Empire—Ordered to lie on the
table.
Mr. PER CEVAL said, pursuant to his intimation, he rose to propose to
the House the renewal of the Bank-note Act of last Session, svith some
inconsiderable-amendments as to its tendency; and that it should in co-
- ,formity to the prayer of the petition from Belfast, and other represents-
dons of grievance from different parts, he extended to Ireland. Aware
that .4 :present the particular engagements of the Irish Niernber-;,
is
their own country, made it troublesome for them to attend in their
. places, to pronounce their opinions on the propriety of the measure,
he would only propose, that the Bill should be brought in,
and rcad
a, second time• before the holidays.. All be contemplated in the pr'
sent measure was, a renewal of the Bill for a lirzitcd period, all ex'
tension of its provisions to Ireland, and an atnenchnent so as to i•roteict
paymeat of Bank-notes, in and out of Courts of Law, and um'er
process of law. Front all that he could learn, concerning the recei,tion
Which the measure of last. year ms t with from the country at tare!
he wohld be induced to pronounce it a most salutary regulatiun, a;ql
one also which had' ;net. with
.airriost the
.entire approbation 0f t.. 1
empire. Only tbree actions we're entered concerning the payment !?.
Nwes, One of tvhich hla been carried, and the Other tvtro were
pending for judgment ; however, to binder a recurrence of t 11::

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