The National Register.
London, England, 1822-03-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

But after the signing of the order of two judges, it would
be a waste of time to occupy the attention of the house.
The privilege of members was, that their letters should be
exempted from postage—they were not exempt from being
openeli where oilier letters were liable to be opened. Be-
sides, the act of parliament hail justified the by-laws for
the nianagement of prisons and other places of confine-
ment. The opening of letters committed to the post-office
would be a breach of privilege, hut that was different
from the case where gaolers had to widen the letters sent
from their prisoners. Milliners would not desire to inter-
fere with the criminal justice of the country.
Mr. G. BENNE IT said, according to the doctrine of
the right boo. gentlemen, magistrates might convert sim-
ple impriso iiiii ent into solihuy continement.
Atter an Lxtetided discussion, in which Sir IL Wilson,
Lord Londonderry, and several members took part, the
house divided. The intinbeis were—Fur the motion, 60
—Against it, 16'1—Majority, 10.
THE FIVE l'Elt CENT. STOCK.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then lose
to bring forward his proposed plass for the redemption u
the Five per Cent. Stock. The right ham gent. entered
into a detail of his plan end intentions, %illicit have already
be-en before the public iu the account of what passed at
the meeting at Fife-house, on Friday last. He bind his
plan only differed front Mr. Pelham in one point, that of
regairing a dissent, instead of an assent, on the part of the
stockholder. He concluded by moving a resolution, that
all holders of Fire per Cent. Stock, who did not declare
their dissent, should receive I U.A. Four per Cent. fur each
MI. Five per Cent. The interest to be paid half yearly,
and Stock not redeemable till Ist!9.
Mr. ELLICE contendi.d that, looking at the plan of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in whatever way he %%mild,
it was Unjust towards Use public eicilitor, olio had a right
to an option which wits not given by this plan. The Clit et
of it had already been to induce little holders of stork to
run, in a state of alarm, and sell out, and the resin' had
been to raise all the foreign funds, even to the bonds of
the new Republic of Columbia, which had risen to par.—
He strongly condemned the regulation requiring a dissent
instead of an assent, which he said was gl eat illjagtiee, alld
these were the objections he had to the plan.
Mr. WILLIAMS also condemned the plan, first, on
account of the distress it would occasion to the small
leitidliolders, of whom, according to the statement of the
Chancellor of the Excliequer, there were above COW.—
Next, he disapproved of the plan, because it added seven
millions to the national debt. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had said it would keep up the funds; in his (Mr.
‘Viiliants's) opinion, this was an evil rather than a good,
since the debt would be much better paid when the Rinds
were low, than when they were high.
Mr. MA BERLEY w islied the period should be extended
from the !nth to the 3011 i of March t—lie wished this, to
prevent the possibility of the politic saying this plan was
hurried ou without giving time for reflection.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply
to a question tram Mr. Ricardo, said, no person residing
abroad, mi) might in consequence claim all extended time
for entering a dissent, should be entitled to such extended
time for any Stock purchased later than the 2J of Fe-
bruary.
Mr. T. W ILSON objected to one part of the plan, viz
that part which went to hold a rod over the heads ul the
individuals holding Five per Cent. stock. It not only re-
duced their interest to r per cent., but told them that a
the end of seven years it might be again reduced.
Some further observations followed from Mr. Ricardo,
Mr. Bright, and Mr. Banks.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply,
to questions put to him, said, that trustees would be em-
powered to act for their principals, and be indemnified as
by Mr. Pelham's Act in 1749.
The re solution was ultimately adopted.
The House thee went into a committee on the A111111;11
Malt Tax Act.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed
a resolution, that Instead of returning any sum upon stock
un hand, which might have the effect of vamping the
°pet ations of the brewers and _distillers, there should be
an allowance of Ys. per barrel made on all strong beer and
porter brewed within a certain period. A proportionate
duty on spirits distilled from grain, and vinegar made in
11:e same period.
The resolution was agreed to.—Report to-morrow.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House ad-
fourned at half past twelve.
TIPESDAY, ‘2l.

,
There being only Thit ty-tive Member, ple:ent at four
o'clock, the Speaker declared the House to stand ad
journed.

WEDNESDAY, PEI. 21.
Leave was given to bring in a bill for the lighting of
akcfield with gas.
Sir H. BLAIR presented a petition from Wiglown,
complaining of agricultural distress.
Cul. DAVIS moved for returns ut. the putt expenees of
collecting the excise; the West India Duck dues,
cd.
Gen. GASCOVNE brought in the Liverpool Duck
Acts Amendment bill.—RAad a first time.
Mr. HUME moved tar a series of accounts of bat racks
kept lip fur marines, &c.—Ordered.
Mr. RICARDO moved fur sewn's of the weekly aril-
vela of corn at Mat Wane, distill:o'o'4lg British hum
foreign, tot the last three years.—Ordered.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Mr. Gourley,
complaining of the present mode of governing our colt,-
Ines in Canada, which, by a proper mode of administra-
;night be made to pay their uNill
expcncen: Bead,
and ordered to be printed.
HAWKERS AND PEDLARS.
Mr. 11UNIE said, he was extremely ',minas to bring
this subject before the house. The department for col.
heeling the hawkers and pedlars' duties was extremely
expensive; and, what was remarkable, it was such as ter
back as 17117. R.:pints to that effect were then made to
the 11011 AZ. The hawkcta and pedlars were 'Afterwards
thrown into the hackney coach &pertinent ; bat the ex.
pence from 4,0001. had arisen to 9,4421. These ditties
were collected at a rate of upwards of 16 per cent. 'the
commissioners attended only about once a week—amongst
them were Col. Thornton, who seldom attended; 111 r.
Wilmot, who was pirs ale secretary to Lord Liverpool;
end Mr. Jesse, who Ix-longed to the Board of Works.
Were tin re any duties to perform, those individuals would
nut attend. '1 he ditties collected amounted to 52,04101 ,
and the rape 'ice of collecting amounted to 9,34•41. The
country cunturissronru Dad been extruded hum 10 to Jo.
Out vl these colic clots was a clergyman; auulhu Was a

lunatic, he tenth:l.3lodd ; indeed these hundred pounders
were appointed Recording to the interest possessed. In-
stead of being placed in populona divisions, most of them
were in obscure places, proving what lie had stated, that
the business was one completely of patronage. As to the
hackney coach department, it was said that it could nut
be done away with, because it was one of police as well
as of revenue. Belot e the police offices were established,
that might be an argument ; but now the complaints re-
garding hackney coaches sere chiefly adjusted at the
police ullices—indeed the hackney coach co 11111 l issioners
wily met once a week. It was iptite preposterous that
such an establishment should be kept up at such an enor-
mous expence,especially as the stage coach duty, amount-
ing 0 2:i,11011/1.,W collected at an expence nut exceeding
6,0001. (I lear.)-1 le cum:hided with moving for an ac-
count of the hawkers and pedlars' establishment.
Mt. LUSHINGTON said, he would mot object to the
accounts required; but he lamented that the hon. gent.
hail not limited himself more particularly to the motion.
Alany circumstances had hen omitted that ought to be
introduced. The office had undergone revision in 1810.

lie did not mean to say, that the department might not
undergo some useful revision now; indeed its revision
etas a matter of consideration at present with the govern-
ment. tie would not say that the lia•Nkers and pedlars'
duties might not be collected by the stamp ur tax depart-
ments ; but as the commissioners of hackney coaches had
judicial .duties to pet foim—as they had to deal atilt Y or
3,000 persons of not the must tractable disposition, lie did
nut think it was a department that could be advantageously
abolished.
.%literinati WOOD thought the magistrates could per-
fon)) •dicli duties.
After some remarks from Sir W. De Crespigny, the
accounts were ordered.
Mi. HUME, in moving for further accounts, said, that
his strong points had been winded. If country commis-
sioners were required, why o ere they appointed in ob-
scure places. He moved for aCCOIIIIIS of 'inspectors of

4Cr.
Mr. LUSH INGTON ohscried, that the hon. gent. was
much misinformed on the subject—die commissiontis had
decided upwards of cases yearly.
Mr. G. BEN N E complained of the government
tlarowing on the house, the investigation of these cases.—
he members of the executive seemed to imagine that
they had nothing to do but to receive their salaries, and
that the house was to perform the business of the country.
Arc! tttt Its were ordered; also of country inspectors;
penalties collected; Low applied; the number of board
days, ire.
A report from the commission appointed to inquire
into the state of the revenue of Ireland having been pre-
sented to the !Wise,
Mr. WALLACE begged to observe, that this was
merely a preliminary report.—Ordered to be printed.
Sir R. W ILSON said, lie was requested to present a
petition, signed by LAW persons, residents of Greenock.
complaining of the sentence pronounced on 'Mi. Hunt;
of the subway eoidinement to which he had been con-
demned ; of the llaU,eous state of his pi ism', etc. They
prayed fur Mr. limit's removal or release. After tile
cruelties and climes Mr. Hunt hail exposed; and after
the treatinint and severe rules to which lie was subjected,
the House pea haps would think, if the ministers had ally
justice or generosity left, they would acquiesce in the
prayer of the petition.
Mr. WARN E said, whatever Mr. conduct might
have been, the treatment to winch lie Was exposed was
quite uncalled for and unwaraautable. Mr. Hunt was
perfectly right in not availing himself in tile common jail-
room of the prison to hold intercourse wick his frieuds.—
The prison, it was well km mil, was on the banks of a
river, anti there was a small aperture in the wall; and
the only way the son had to talk with his rather was to
row to Allah aperture, and there, laying on his oars, hold.
ing conversati with his parent.—(Hear, beer.)
Mr. DICKENSON said the rules had been agreed to
by a most respectable body of magistrates.
Mr. HUME observed, that All hon. member (Sir T.
Lethbridge) had denied that Mr. Hunt was sufiering " so-
litary" confinement. He had now au affidavit from the
surgeon end Mr. Hunt's sun, sweating to that fact ; sud
that the shoal hail sent a letter, deploring that the few
comforts enjoyed previously by Mr. Haim were com-
pulsorily entureed. The commissioned s reported that the
prison was badly conducted, and that Mr. Hunt's room
was dal k, damp, uuventilated, and altogether most un-
wholesome. It the magistrates were not to blame, who
were to be blamed? He deemed their couduct to have
been must culpable.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said that the object was to have
it believed, that Mr. Hunt WAS exposed to extraordinary
severity. He dill nut admit such to be the case. But es
to the charge of solitary confinement, lie certainly did
not yet believe it to be proved. To shut out particular
WAS not to impose solitary confinement. As
to the repot t of the commissioners, he had read it with
pain, and he hoped such circumstances would not occur.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR declared, that lie considered Ilse
s 'oiling magistrates of Sumeisetslaire to be mach to blame
—they had not done what it was their duty to do. lie
would 1101 shrink lions his duty, and express conipliment
where he thought no compliment was deserved.—(llear,
hear!)
Mr.G. BENN ETT was not surprised at the hon. bart.'s
(Sir I'. L.) notion about solitary confinement ; but to
compel individuals to have intercourse with their friends
under most degrading circumstances, was to enforce so-
litary confinement of the most galling character. There
was no gaol iu the kingdom where there was such conduct
as was ;tow complained of. The rules, signed as they
welt by Mr. Justice Best, were most censurable. 'The
visiting magistrates had been most negligent--dlicy ought
to be removed—and if he had the power, they should ne-
ver exert any magisterial duty again.
Mr. Alderman W 00D declared, that Mr. Hunt was, in
fact, now condemned to solitary confinement, and Boit his
loom was damp and most miwnolesome. The rules had
been altered six or seven times, and that without any
complaint being preferred against Mr. Hunt, as the com-
illitslitulinecyj eed;er tliliti,etomr3eglitt
sows 'ties to which lie was exposed—seventies which,
vraiittA•sisi.midintoltiefttomwtehre,
;lethal's, no other man but Mr. Hunt could Mire survived.
Mr. LEN N AR'S condemned the treatment to which Ma.
limit was exposed, and was astonished that the inagn.-
, tildes could dclare their dermination to &lend their
eto:lll.l,:iditeierlice4.
eilaralion appeared in titian, and had net
lieu
remain] tead, and tinkled to be pliuted.