The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-26 00:00:00

GAME LAWS•

Earl GROSVENOR wished, before the House adjourned,
to say a few words on the subject of the Game Laws, to which
their Lordships' attention had already been called. Some
Noble Lords might perhaps be desirous of hearing evidence to
form a ground for any Bill which might come before them,
and for that purpose propose the appointment of a Committee
to examine witnesses. Their Lordships must, however, be
aware that they had before them a report of the Committee of
the House of Commons, which was printed, and might be
consulted at their pleasure, He undoubtedly thought that re.
port quite sufficient to justify their Lordships in coming to a
determination on the measure. The evidence taken before the
House of Commons was extremely full and satisfactory. If

their Lordships were to travel from one end of the country to
the other, they would find in every market-town proof of the
truth of the allegation in the report of the House of Com-
mons, that game was every where to be purchased. The sale,
in fact, could not le prevented ; and it appeared to him, that if
the Bill for legalizing it should pass into a law, it would not
have the effect of lessening the quantity of game, as some
supposed, but the contrary ; for if the game were permitted to
be brought openly into the public markets, the reduction which
would take place in the price would diminish the temptation to
any illegal mode of procuring it. For the reasons he had
stated, he should not move for the appointment of a Com-
mittee. Indeed, he thought all further evidence unnecessary.
The Earl of DARNLEY concurred in the propriety of
making game property, and legalizing its sale; but he could
not agree with his Noble Friend in thinking that their Lord-
ships' House ought to take for granted all that appeared on
the subject of the Game Law in the Report of the House of
Commons. As their Lordships had the power of examining
on oath, he wished his Noble Friend to consider, whether it
would not be advisable to institute an inquiry in that manner,
and to see whether the examination before their Lordships
would bear out all that was stated in the Report of the other
House. This he thought would be more satisfactory than
leaving the matter as it now stood. He would really wish his
Noble Friend to consider, whether it would not be better to
have evidence at the first, than at the second hand ; and this
was an advantage which could only be gained by moving fora
Committee—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
ST. CATHERINE'S DOCK.

Mr. BYN(i presented a Petition from the inhabitants of the
parish of St. Catherine, in the precincts of the Tower, praying
that leave might not be granted to bring in a Bill founded on
the petition of certain merchants of London '6 to construct
additional docks in the space between the Tower of London
and the London Docks, with warehouses and other works, to
bel appropriated for the purposes of landing, bonding, and
shipping of all goods, wares, and merchandises." The reason
which had led the petitioners to present this petition was, that
they had not received any notice of such a measure being in
contemplation until the commencement of the present month.
Mr. CALVERT said, that when the Bill in question should
be brought in, he should have several petitions from his con-
stituents to present against it. If the contemplated dock were
constructed, the little trade that was now left to the Surrey
side of the river would be very likely to desert it entirely.
The petition was ordered to remain on the table.
Mr. CT RENFELL brought up the Report on the petition of
the Merchants of London, praying for leave to bring in a bill
to construct certain docks, &c. in the parish of St. Catherine.
As the Report of the Committee stated that the Standing Or-
ders had not been complied with, it would be necessary for him
to move that, in this case, they be dispensed with, and that the
Notices, which are usually given to the parties interested be-
fore the opening of Parliament, be allowed to be given at the
next Easter Sessions.

After the Motion had been seconded, and read from the
Chair,

Mr. CALVERT rose and objected to it, stating that no
grounds had or could be shown sufficient to justify such a de-
viation from the Standing Orders of the House.
A long and desultory discussion took place on this point of
form in which Mr. Curwen, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr.
Wallace, Dr. Phillimore, Mr. Barng, and some other Mem-
bers, contended that the Standing Orders ought to be rescind-
ed; and Mr. Bright, Mr. Littleton, Mr. Alderman He gate
Mr. Byng, and others, contended to the contrary. The House
divided, when there appeared—
For Mr. Grenfell's motion - - - 78
Against it - - - - - - 30

Majority

TAX ON SHEPHERDS' DOGS.
Lord LOWTHER presented a petition from the Shepherds
of Westmorland, praying for a repeal of the duty upon their
dogs.
Mr. ELLICE said, that the tax was tantamount to a tax
upon working tools; and that, though the amount was small,
it pressed heavily upon persons who had no money to spare.
Mr. CURWLN supported the petition.
Mr. DAVENPORT presented a petition from Chester
against the repeal on the Duty on Silk.
Lord LOWTHER, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, and Sir E.
HARVEY, presented petitions from Aldringham, Ashburton,
and Croydon against the Duty on Coals.
Mr. MABERLY gave notice, that on Tuesday the 9th of
March, he would submit a motion to the House on the subject
of Beer and Malt.

Lord BINNING presented a petition from distillers in Scot-
land, praying for an equalization of the duties on Scotch and
Irish whiskey, as regarded importation into England.
Mr. ItENNEDY said that the measure of last Session had
done much to check illicit distillation in Scotland ; but unless
the subject of the petition was attended to, a system of smug-
gling, it was to be feared, would be introduced.
Lord A. HAMILTON repeated his question of a former
evening as to the Commissary Courts of Scotland. He wished
to know what progress the commission appointed had made.
Mr. PEEL said that an act of sederunt had just been re-
ceived, the effect of which he would shortly lay before the
House.

Mr. DENISON presented a petition from certain licensed
victuallers against the duty on Excise Licences.
Mr. STUART WORTLEY presented petitions to the same
effect, from the licenced victuallers of Niretherby and Beverley.
Mr. MABERLY moved for sundry papers and documents
connected with the redemption of land tax in the last year.

COINAGE.
Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY rose to bring forward his mo-
tion for an inquiry how far the coin of the realm .might be
adapted to decimal calculation. The Hon. Baronet's plan was,
to abolish the existing shillings, pence, and half-pence, and to
reduce the current coin into pounds, double shillings, and
farthings. In this way 100 farthings would make a double
shilling, and 10 double shillings, or 1,000 farthings, would
amount to a pound ; and pounds would be converted (arithme-
tically) into farthings, or farthings into pounds, by shnply add-
ing or subtracting three ciphers to the right hand. The con-
venience of such a mode of keeping accounts could not be
doubted, and it had been adopted in France for 30 years paSt.
Of course it would be necessary, to prevent inconvenience, that
it should be carried into effect at the same moment all over the
kingdom. This might easily, however, be accomplished by
fixing some day for its absolute commencement, and enacting

that, up to that appointed day, all transactions should i:e in the
old style. The lion. Baronet concluded by moving, that an
address should be presented to the Crown upon, the subject.
Mr. WALLACE did not think that there was such a want
of practical convenience abbot our present coin, as to lay a
ground for the change which the lion. Baronet meditated..
No doubt there.wonld, be advantages attending it, but not
enough, he though, to compensate the inconveniences. The
system had been adopted certainly in France; but that .was at
the time of the revolution, when a re-organization was taking
place throughout all the institutions of the country. The pre;
sent mode of division in the value of the coinage was adapted
to the current affairs. of the community—was interwoven with
their daily customs and habits, and any alteration, howev&
good in view, abstractedly must work great incc,nvenieuce to
those whom the lion. Baronet proposed to benefit. Innovatimks
and changes were always to he looked at with jealousy • arid
much more so, when there was no adequate benefit likely. tfa
arise to compensate the risk of alteration. The Right. Hot}.
Gentleman (as we understood him), referring to some of the
observations of the Hon. mover, admitted that great inconve-
nience did arise front the difference between tho currency. of
England and Ireland, and promised that a measure should be
proposed by the GdvernMent ter the Parliament before Ithig to
remedy it.

Mr. IHTME understood that a Committee had been appoint-.
ed to consider of this subject, together with that of the weights
and measures. He wished to know if the Commissioners had
sat ? Had they made a report ? Was it laid on the table ?
What statement did they make of their opinion upon it ?
Mr. D. GILBERT said that the Committee had sat •• upon
weights and measures, but never upon the divisions of the
currency.
_ _

After a few words from Sir lIENny PARNELL and Mr. T.
WiLsoN,

Sir J. N'VROTTESLEY consented not to press his motion
to a division, though he trusted that the young men in the
House would live to see the principle of his measure carried
into effect.—Motion negatived without a division.

COMMISSIONERS OF REVENUE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved for
the renewal of the Commission which had been so usefully em.
ployed in the last year in investigating the concerns of the re-
venue of Ireland and England. le felt that he should not do
justice, if he dill not seize the opportunity of acknowledging
the great advantage which the public service had derived from
the simultaneous efforts of another commission, at the head of
which was his Right Hon. Friend the Paymaster of the Forces.
The report made by them had been taken as the ground of
many valuable regulations in the Customs and Excise of this
country; and the perseverance and acute knowledge displayed
by them could not be too highly commended.
Mr. HUME asked if it was the intention of those Commis-
sioners to direct their exertions to the same subject which had
occupied them last year. There were many thing, in the Cus-
toms on this side of the Channel which deserved their attention
equally with the Customs of Ireland.

Sir C. LONG acknowledged the gratification which must be
felt by himself and the other Commissioners in receiving the
tribute of praise which his Right Hon. Friend was . pleased to
pa3c to their labours. He was happy to say that their exertions
had been deemed most useful ; every suggestion which they
had made had bean adopted with entire success. It was not
for him to say whether their labours should be directed to the
very same subject again ; but they would proceed with asmuch
activity and perseverance as before, wherever these exertions
should be wanted.
The motion was carried.
DELAYS IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
..Mr. LE A KE stated, that in consequence of what had passed
last night respecting the delays in the Court of Chancery, he
considered it his duty, out of respect to the House, (although
he believed it was not absolutely necessary, in point of form,
that he should do so), to acquaint them, that it was not his in-
tention to bring forward the measures upon that subject of
which he had given notice in the last session.