The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-03 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT;

Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a Petition from the Land-
holders and Tradesmen of one of the Hundreds of Somerset-
shire, complaining generally of dis:ress, and praying•for a re-
duction of taxation. The Hon. Baronet stated that the Peti.
don came from a part which ivas once considered the richest of
the country. He agreed with the Petitioners that, unless some
effectual reduction of taxes were made, the present unexampled
distress of the country could not be alleviated. With regard
to the plans lately proposed by hii Majesty's Ministers, and
more especially that which related to chartering country Banks,
he augured no great relief from them, for, in truth, there was
no complaint as to• the circulation of country' Bank-notes. He
was afraid the primary -consequence of these measures would
be to give to the Bank of England a continuance of its mono-
poly, without doing any thing for public benefit. Being upon
the subject, he could not htlp saying that he thought it a little
odd that tie Right lion. Gentleman Ithe Chancellor of the.
Exchequg) should propose to the Bankto renew their Charter.
11 years before it expired.—(Hear 0-11 e had great confidence
in that Right Hon.. Gentleman, and he htped therefore no
finite arrangement upon so important a question would be come
to, until the whole had been submitted to Parliament.

Mr: GRENFELL said that the subject of Chartered Banks'
on which the Honourable Member had. animadverted, induced
him to take that opporttinity of calling the attention of the
House to the subject of the renewal of the Charter of the Bank
of England, and-the more particularly, on account of some-
thing which had happened in the metropolis that morning. He
(Mr. G.) had put a question to the-Chancdlor of the Exche-
quer, on Tuesday night, to ascertain whetter any stipulation
was proposed respecting the Bank Charter, and the Right Hon.
Gentleman denied the intention of proposing the extension with-
out stipulation or condition. lie trusted it would be so ; hut,
in the communication made by Lord Liverpool and the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer to the Bank Directors, fiir extending
the Charter ten years, no mention was expressed of a stipula-
tion, and a Learned Gentleman in the,Bank Court, which was
held that day, congratulated the Directors on the favourable
terms of-the beaus. He (Mr. G.) did hope, that after the ex-
perience of several years of enormius expence to the country,
arising out of the present relation ii: which the Bank stood to
the Government—after the tyranny vhich it had exercised over
the Government itself; and after its laving relinquished one of
its greatest functions, that of discoutting on reasonable terms—.
namely, at 4 per cent., which he bdieved would }cafe much
diminished the existing distress—aftir all this experience, Mi-
nisters never should allow the extension of that monopoly,
which was injurious to the public tnd detrimental to the best
interests of the country. He called in the House to interpose
legitimate authority on this occasion,snd rescue the nation from
the mischievolis consequences. Thellonourable Member then
gave notice that he would oppose the extension of the Charter of
the Bank of England, under every arcuinstance, and upon all
considerations:

Mr. J. SMITH would not take in the time of the House on
this subject, as it Was not the quesion before it ; but he ob-
jected as much as any man to the urzonditional renewal of the
Charter. He thought it, however, inpossible, in the present
state of the country, that the Govenment could give the 'ex-
tension of the Charter for nothing, ytt he understood that no-
thing was to be given. Both the Hon. Members who had
spoken before him had talked of Chatered Banks, but he be-
lieved they had mistaken the Noble %krquis on a former night,
who, in his opinion, said nothing abort Chartered Banks, but
spoke of Associations of Bankers fornifig establishments of a
very different character.
Mr. HUSKISSON implored•the Hose to consider whether
the public business and the progressof debates could be ad-
vanced by introducing public quesdonsof an important nature,
and on which great difference of opiniot was entertained, inci-
dentally, and upon Petitions which hal no reference to the
question before the House. This wai a practice into which
Hon. Members were fallinimore and mirdevery day, and this
was the less excusable when the discussion was fixed for a fu-
ture day, when the House must regularlyconsider the subject.
The Hon. Member for Somersetsifire lifd given notice of his
own Resolutions on the subject of Agriculural Distress, which
was what this question related to, and it would be time enough
when his Resolutions were submitted to he House to discuss
them.

Mr. CREEVEY protested again't the doctrine laid down
by the Right Honourable Gentleman who spoke last. The
doctrine of notices was new and unknovn to the ancient
Constitution. The true and legitimate way of discussing grie-
vances was upon Petitions presented. The more convenient
way indeed for Government might be to discuss subjects
of this kind on a day fixed ; but he trusted that Honourable
Members would prefer the ancient practice, and promote dis-
cussion of existing grievances on the presentation of Petitions.
Mr. HUME followed on the same side, and contended that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, bv renewing the Charter of
the Bank for ten years, was forestalliag his successor, as the
Charter of the Bank had eleven years to run, and no one could
say what changes might take place in tiat time; and he hoped
the landed interest, when the question came on, would oppose
the measure.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCUEQUER said, that
although the subject in discussion was not the one origin-
ally before the House; yet on account of observations which
had fallen from some Honourable Members, he would tres-
pass a little on their time. He was accused with not hav-
ing dealt fairly with the House on the subject of the re-
newal of the Bank Charter. He would appeal to ti e. sense
of the House whether, pending the negotiation with the Bank,
he ought to have made the communication required ? The re-
sult of that negotiation would be soon laid before the House,
and they would see whether it was right to ratify it.:He would
not anticipate their decision ; but he must state that he
was now called upon to make provision for the circulating
medium by the issue of country bank-notes. There was no ques-
tion more important, or which more deserved the attention