The Sun.
London, England, 1801-03-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESDAY,, MARCH
Mr. STP.ELE moved, "That the Mutiny Bi:
be re-committed."

In ansu:'er to a question by Mr. WHITBREAD,

Mr. STEELE said, that there was no altera-
tion or amendmetit introduced into this Bill from
similar ones of former years, but merely such
as were necessary to adapt it to the circumstan-
ces of the Union between the two Kingdoms.

Mr. IVIIITBREiID said, lie understood that
it was the, custom in ,the Army, when a Soldier
was brought up to receive punishment, for a Sur-
geon to stand by, and to give his opinion how
much Human Nacure-was capable to bear, after
which ' the' Soldier was remanded to a future
time, to receive the remainder of his punishment.
He thought it was shocking to Humanity that
a man should be brought out to receive punish-
ment a second time for ' the same offence.—He
also underitood that there were in Regiments
two sets of Cats, so called, of greater or less
size, and that it was at the discretion of the Com-
manding Officer, with which oftheie two instru_
meats the punishment should be inflkled.—This
was a matter which he thought should not be com-
mitted to the discretion of the Commanding
Officer.

Mr. STEELE, said, that having bad the
Honour of commanding a Militia Regiment, he
.had had opportunities of seeing punishments in-
flided; It was true that it was -usual for a Sur-
geon -to stand by whilst punishment was infliaed,
lest the culprit's life should:be endangered ; but
he believed there were very few instances of the
same. mates being brought up a second time to
receive punishment. But as the subjed Was of a
delicate nature, he would submit it, whether it
would not be .better to leave some discretion
with. the Commanding Officer, as the culprit's
fear of,bcing brought out a second time, might
operate as a powerful check, whereas, 'did he
certainly know that he could only be punished
once, he might contrive so to weaken himself,
that it might only be advisable to iOia upon,
him a
,smaller punishment than his offence re-,
quired. As to title Cat, he had -never known of
two different sorts of such instruments. It' was
-
the duty of the ,Drum_Mailar to prepak. them,'
wh was responsible on that head..
Mr. WHITB RE-A D obserVed, that the Right
Hon. Gentleman had said the instances of the.
same man's receiving punishment twice were but
rare, but he thought it better that no such
stances existed ; and if .he was Well informed,
there were instances of the same Soldier's being
brought out oftener than twice for the same
offence, and he knew from-good authority that
instruments of different severity were in use.
Gen. TA RLETON deprecated any interference
of the House upon these points. He declared
that in no Service in which he had been engaged,
had he seen two Cats-. It was 'necessary that a
Commanding Officer should obtain authority both
by fear and love, and therefore if a man was
brought out a second time, he thought it better
to leave it wholly to the decision of the Officer
as to the infliction of punishment, end that this
dis'eretionnry power should not be taken from him
by'any interference on the part of the House.
A Clause was afterwards proposed, and agreed
to, putAing persons employed in the Corps of
Royal Artificers, Gunners, and Engineers, with-
in the provisions 'of the Bill.—The House being
resumed, the Bill, with Amendments, was, brought
up, and the Report ordered to be received ,to-
morrow,

The Marine Mutiny Bill was also reported,
and the Report'ordered to be received to-niorrow.
Sit F. BURD'ETT moved, r( That a 'sufficient
number of the 'Minutes of .the Examination of
the 'Witnesses examined yesterday at the Bar of
the House, be printed for the use 'of the Mem-
bers."

.COAI. TRADE
Mr. MANNING said; he rose, :pursuant to
the notice he had given, for The, purpose of moving
for-leave-to-bring in,a- Hill for the better regula-
tion of the Coal Trae;' about a twelve-month
ago, tie had moved for Committee to inquire
into the state of thai Trade.--,That Committee
' had paid everrattention to the stibje&, which
appeared- in twb Reports that were made. He
had been induced to make that Motion in con-
sequence of the high price of Coals in 1799, arid
I Soo. -At a meeting of the CQal Owners in the
North, it had heen;admitted-by- them, that they
saw with regret, the price,• of Coals in the Port
of London higherithan the value of'the commo-
dity required.. At the' same,time he understood,
that there ~had been an agreement amongst the
Coal Owners, not to ship any more during the
, year' than ascertain proportion, the tendency of
which ResolutiOn was, to stint the market, and
to,cause the price to be considerably advanced.to
• the Public. He understood chat it was customary
for the. Coal Owners in the North to charge. the
- high price upon the mal-pradices of the Dealers
in itheSouth, whilst those in the South iniphted
it to a _combination amongst ,the Owner's in the
North. Mr. MANNING also stated the prat-lice .
anici,gst the Coal Dealers at the Coal Exchange,
. (.i inev.ing by themselVe's* in a room, tic. whilst
the Public were excluded, and left at the mercy of

PRICE 0.
YESTI

Bank Stock. shut
Navy fpeeCent. 9%;
sper Cent. 1797, shut
Irish 5 per Cent. shut
4 per Cent. Con. shut
3 per Cent. Red. shut
3 per Cent. Con. ssia
Ditto Scrip - •
Danklong Ann.
Ditto Short Ann.
Ditto Scrip