The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF. COMMONS.

BRISTOL AND TAUNTON CANAL BILL.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE moved the second reading of this

Mr. WARRE opposed it; anti moved, as an amendment,
that it be read a second time that day six months.
Mr. C. HERVEY supported the amendment.
Mr. BRIGHT and Sir T. ACLAND supported the
The House then divided—
For the second reading
Against it -
111sjority - - -—6 B
The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be cotn-

- • 102

Mr. Alderman THOMPSON presented a petition, signed
by 20 Merchants, Ship-owners, and others, -connected whit
the trade of London, in favour of the St. Catherine's Docks.
Mr. Ahlerman BRIDGES presented a similar petition from
several persons in the wine and spirit trade. - f•••••••
•tfr. MANNING presentedapeeltionagainst the St. Cathe-•
vine's Dock, from the London Deiek Company.
• Mr. GRENFELL said, that the commercial interest severely,
felt the want of a New Dock Company.
- THE MANCHESTER GASLIGHT BILL.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH. presented a petition from Mr.
Walker, a Solicitor at Manchester, complaining of certain at-
tack* his character, contained in the Evidence before a Com-
mittee of the House on the Manchester -Gas Bill, and praying •
that he might be allowed an opportunity to clear his character •
from that imputation. The Committee on the Bill had ad-
journed sin: die, so that without the order of the House for
them to resume ieir sitting-and hear the evidence he might ad-
duce in support of his character, his professional prospects
would be materially injured.
Mr. BRIGHT objected to receiving the petition. • Nothing,.
• he said, which took place in a Committee of the House could
be called in question in the House.
The SPEAKER assented to the doctrine of the Hon. Mem-
ber. The Committee on the Bill had not yet made their Re-
port, and the House could not therefore know what had taken
place before them. - •
Mr. HUME complained of the 'hardship of this rule if
adopted by the House. He wished-to know what address an •
individual had under such circumstances.
The SPEAKER repeated that the House could not be cog-
nisant of the circumstances until the Committee had made their,
Report.
Mr. BRIGHT said, that even a Member of a Committee
ought not to speak in the House of what had
.passed in a Com-
mittee until a Report had been made. • .
Mr. P. MOORE spoke a few words -in favour of the
petition.
Mr. B. WILBRAHAM doubted whether the Committee
ought to receive evidence pro. and con. as to incidental points
which might come out on their inquiries. .
Sir JA M ES MACKINTOSH withdrew the petition.
Mr. CURTE IS then rose to submit a motion respecting the
matter of the petition just introduced to the notice of the House.
His motion was founded on the evidence which had been heard
before the Committee, and which evidence affected the charac-
ter of IVIr. 'Walker. The question was, whethe: certain peti-
tions presented to the Committee in favour of the Bill were
genuine or not ? The Hon. Member was proceeding to ob-
serve that the Committee had been imposed upon by several
petitions being presented on the subject of the Bill, signed with
fictitious names,
Lord ST AN LEY objected to referring to the evidence taken
before the Committee.

Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH contended that every Mem-
ber had a right to speak to the evidence front his own memory.
The SPEAKER admitted the objection taken by Lord
Stanle3i..
Mr..CURTEIS said the practice of signing petitions in the
way he had mentioned was but too common.—After some fur•
then remarks on the same subject, and on the necessity of, the
House having a matter so nearly connected with their honciur
fully inquired into, the Hon. Member moved, " That the Corn.
mittee on the said Bill do resume their sitting te-Morrow."
Mr. STANLEY opposed the motion. There was no doubt,
from the evidence before the. Committee, that • the inhabitants
of Manchester were against the bill, and that several persons
had most improperly signed many hundred fictitious names to
petitions in favour of it; but there was no evidence directly to
connect Mr. Walker with this fraudulant conduct. All that ap-
peared in evidence was, that these fictitious naives had been
affixed in the presence of Mr. Walker's clerk. There was no
imputation on Illr. Walker, and there ought to be none on the
Committee, who, when the supporters of the bill were ashamed
of it, and gave it up adjourned, sine die, from motives of corn-
passion to the parties, whom they must otherwise have brought
before the House for their conduct. •
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH supported the motion. The
Walker,
House; and they ought to be ordered •to
adjournment of the Committee, sine die, was a disobedience of
the Order o
hear Mr.

Mr. PHILLIPS said, the Committee having adjourned,
sine die, did no longer exist; and this question was, whether
it should be revived or not. He did not think there was any
case made out in support of the motion. •
Mr. T. WILSON did not think the double signatures men:.
tioned as having been attached to the Petition in question
ginated in fraud. He was, however, under the circumstances,
willing to abandon the Bill. ••
Mr. BRIGHT thought the matter ought not to be allowed
to pass without some act of condemnation or punishment on
the part of the House, for the deception which had heed pfac-
tised upon it. •It was a practise became too prevalent in the
country, that of putting a false name to a petition, and'it -was
high time that it should be known that it was a breach of the
privileges of that Ilouse.
Sir I. COFFIN hoped the Committee would be revived; in
order that justice might be done to all parties.
Mr. H. SUMNER advocated the course recommended by
the last Speaker.
Mr. Alderman HEYGA.TE supported the proposition for
the revival of the Committee.
The Gallery was then cleared' for a•division, but the motion
was negatived without a division, Mr. CuitTEis being unwil-
ling to press the question at the present time.
ORANGE PROCESSIONS.

Mr. DAWSON preiented a Petition from the Freemasons
of Ireland, complaining of their being included in the 'ACt. for
the suppression of Secret Societies. The lion. Member ob-
served, that there was a vast distinction between the Freema-
sons and the other secret .Societies of Ireland, which ought to
exempt them from the operation of a measure of this nature.
'He wished to take that opportunity to complain of,that obnoxi-
ous and mischievous prtrt of the Orange Societies of Ireland,
called the Orange Processions—a practice which he apprehended
would meet with the strongest reprobation pf the Muse, and
which he contended ought to engage the attention of the Legis-
lature. It was a melancholy fact that twenty-five men were now
on their trial in Ireland for murder, committed dnring tumults
proceeding from these processions. Be had on a former occa-
sion reprobated the Societies themselves,
.and he now repro-
bated their processions more than any other part of them. The
Catholics would have their processions in opposition, and thence
it happened that every individual in every county was enlisted
on one side or thc other. Such things could not but end in inis-
chief, and the ditgrace of that state of society which tolerated
them.
Mr. S. RICE expressed his thanks to the Hon. Gentleman
for the speech he had just made. It was calculated to do more
good to Ireland than any thing the present Session had' pro-
due d; and he hoped it would go forth to that part to which he
articularly.belonged. At the same time it would.be ne-
cessary p
that Government should give their assistance.
c
more
Mr. HUME thought. that 'the only way ,to, suppress -kbose
disgraceful proceedings would be by removing every.M.agiStrate
that continued to countenance them.
Mr. BROWNLOW said, that he had a petition of a. simi-
lar nature to present, but• would deliver his. sentiments upon
the subject upon the petition then before the House. He thcrught
it his duty as an Orangeman, and connected with the most
Orange town in Ireland, to declare that it was, in his opinion,
the 'duty of his Majesty's Government to put.down the proces-
sions in question. He agreed with Baron .111‘.Lelland;ithat
Whilst they existed, no man's life was safe, no property was
worthy a pin's purchase, and that all persons would quit the
land where they were allowed to continue.—(Hear''.)—With

.a'gard to the 'Freemasons they declared that their Society was
a charitable one, and •tbat the pledge for the soundness of their
. ptinciples was., that his Majesty George the Fourth was their
Patron, and the Duke of Sussex an eminent Officer amongst
Ihem. In England they were allowed to meet, but if the same
arties crossed the water to Ireland, they would at once be-
come an illegal assembly.
Air. A BERCROMBY congratulated the House on the
change of sentiments in the .Hon. Member who had just sat
-dow No individual could have been more strongly admo-
nished than that *Hon. Member was last year, that'll he' brought
forward- a. particular motion, he would I.,*reatly• increase the
;,trength cf the Orange party. He did not wish to see a body
of men prosecuted for their opinions; but he did hope that his
11.!jesty's Government in Ireland would not lend their coun-
tenance and authority to those Oran,,,,e Societies and Proces-
cions. Such countenance ought to be withdrawn as the en-
toorage,ne, rt of tumult and murder.
Mr. MONCK said he should be scTry
.to see 'the Masonic
Societies suppressed in Ireland, for he looked upon them as
creating a brotherly feeling amongst the members,.. acd as
. Mich calculated to unite the Orangemen and Catholics of the
..inlay.
The petition was then read and ordered to be printed.
SLAVERY, . _ _

Petitions, praying for the gradual abolition of Slavery in the
West Indian colonies, ware • presented by Sir W. INGLEBT
from the towns. of Ainton and Pickering, in the county. of
Lincoln •, by Sir T. BRIDGE fro:n the town of %Wells.;
,tvy Mr. CttIIIVEN from Workington, in the county Of Cumber-
by Mr. W. SMITII from the towns of Dereliani, Stoke.
;tory, pownharn, Barton, and Marham, in the county of Nor-
; by Mr. ABE RC ROMBY from Dowilton, in the county of
Wilts ; by Mr. LtuTTEitwoirrn from Penzance, in Cornwall;
and by Lord MILTON from the town of llulif4x, fir the county
Ad York.

Sir J. WROTTESLEY presmted a petition against the
'Combination Laws from the Working Mechanics of Wolver.
kiampton.—Referred to he Committee. on Artisans.
liar F. BLAKE presented a petition from the town of Ber-
wick-upon-Tweed, and Mr. Alderman Woon apetition from
the Ward of Farringdon Without, praying for .the reeal of
the Window Tax.
MA. Alderman WOOD presented a petition from the Li-
sensed Victuallers of Mile-end; and another ME itnrn a peti-
tion from those of Dartford, praying for sonic alteration in the
lirensing duties.

' ALIEN ACT.
• Mr. BIRCH snide that he had to petition to present from the
Mayor and Corporation of NOttingliarna 'against the 'glen act.
re was happy to say that there was one corporation at least in
the country which had thetefurage to-oppose this unjust, arbi-
trary, and unconstitutiona-Melisure. The petitioners condenin-.
.sd this act, because it enabled the Allied Sovereigns;fius'sed as
loco- were by their recent Succeeses,toptirsue their victims with
.aendietive . malice even • into-this country, the last asylum for
.eeersectited freemen.
Mae Alderman WOOD assured the Hon. Member that the.
' Corporation of Nottingham was not the only corporation that
;bad courage enough to oppose this act.- In a few days he ex-
.. peeled that the. Corporation of London would present at the bar
.of the House, a petition as hostile to- the • principles of this act,
,as that which had just been presented by the lion. Member
himself.—The petition- was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. A B ERCROMBY presented- a petition from Calne, • in
"Nvonr of the County. Court Bill.
Mr. SYKES asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether
.he could inform him of the expence to which the machinery of
Ibis bill would patthe country ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in the
negative.
. - SCOTCH LAW 'COURTS. •
• Lord A. lIA MILTON, in bringing forward the motion of
which he had given notice, relative to the Reports of the Com-
missioners of Inquiry into Scotch Courts of Law, said, 'he
had to complain that so little notice had been taken of those
Reports. lie had waited for ten years in vain, and now
he came • fativarcl to move for a Committee to sit upon
their contents. His object now was to know whether it was
• the intention of his Majesty's Government to originate any
measures upon the Reports; and he did think it was too Much
that so little use should be made of what had cost the- public
49,0001. All that hitherto had been done was the abolition of
. •the Commissary Courts, although- the first recommendation of
, the Commissioners was the adoption of a plan to save 20,0001.
in law expenees between the public and the suitors. This surely
_ was worth attending to, but the change effected had not more
. •than one-fourth of that amount. Ile knew that they
had no right to expect every recommendation to be attended
. t 9- but the House would see how far they had been adopted
when be stated what had been done. In the Court of Sessions,
.for instance, ten offices had been pointed out for abolition—
three only had. been abolished. It was proposed to save six
thousand pounds in that Court--3001. had been saved. The
next were the Commissary Courts, from 'which it was recent.
. mended to abolish five offices, although only one had been done
...away with. A mode had. also been suggested of saving .1,0001.,
,but 4001. only had been saved:- In the. Court of Chancery,
-five officers were recommended to be abolished, but he had
•eyt-c to learn that any reduction had "been effected. There
• .was a charge in one year of 6171. for drink money, which
he certainly :hought was a description of fees that ought to be.
abolished. The next was the kxcbequer Court.. In this two
,sdheers had not been appointed to fill up vacancies; but he
contended that they ought to be abolished by some legal enact-
meat. In the Court of Exchequer, a reduction. of expence to
• the amount of 5,009/. had been recommended, but the recom-
mendation had not been carrietiinto effect. He read extracts
, et'roin the reports of the Commissioners, and complained that
the enormous abases to which they, pointed had not been
. •rrietlied. He next noticed the Sheriff's Court and the Lord
Lyon's Goart, in both of which reductions hod been return-
, emended, which had not been.effected. :The next Report to
. which he would call the attention .of the Learned Lord was
his; ninth Report. What might be the intention, he knew
oiat, but he was not aware that any of its recommendations re-
win; to prosecutions by the Excise, had as-yet been complied
Adverting, to the defects of the Small Debts Juris-
'- .dictiene Court, he announced it to be his intention to bring in a
Mill to remedy these. At present in that Court, the sum of 5/..
. could be recovered before the Justices, and no more. The
Commissioners wished the sum recoverable to be Increased ; it
-.lad not ,been proposed to the House, but this it would be the
object of his Bill to effect. The eleventh Report was the last to
which he should call the attention of the House. It related to
the Borough Courts. Many things connected with these were
• objected to iu that Report, but no Bill had been brought in to
remedy the evil. - These facts stated—though he admitted that
a new Baron of the Exchequer and a King's Deputy Remain-
beaocer not having been appointed, evinced some intention to
het-feet a thane—yet he hoped, under all the circumstances, the
Bouac wood consent to go into the Committee for which he
was about to move. 'lie, however, begged-to say that if a
...better mode could be suggested by. the Learned -Lord for
Übtaining the object in view than that of referring the Rea
porta to a Committee of the whole House, he should •not
object teha different course of proeeeding than that which had
occurred to him as the most rwoper. The Noble Lord con-
'eluded by movins•—le That the. Twelve Reports presented to
the House by the Commissioners of Inquiry on Fees of Courts
of Justice in Stotiand be referred to a Committee of: tile whole
:.house."
• The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND proposed to
reply to the Noble Lord as shortly as the nature of the case
.weetild per: lit. Ile had been astonished at the course taken by
tte Noble Lord, in proposing that the Twelve Reports should
he referred to a Committee of the whole House.. _lie cotiltPun-
derstand a motion for referring theril to a Select Committee, bigt
he had been at a loss why it should he proposed that they should
go into a Committee of the whole liduseeupon them. The.
result however had been what he might have expected, and the,
edefohle Lord. had merely applied himself to sliew, that there had
, been great neglect on the part of the officer who held the shoo-
title which he (the Lord Advocate) had now the `honour-to fill.
The Noble .Lord had always been most-attentive to those who
, head that 'situation.---(A laugh.).-He 'Was- 'd mined "that
:they should not -slumber ,on their Toitss(llene hear f)asenti
every successive Lord Advocate had in him been made by him
ethe subject - of complaint. He begged to deny-, en his 'own
part, any disinclination to carry into fall effect the resolutions
set forth in the reports-of the .Corornisslooerit, which he regard-
ed.as most. valuable •for the historical accennt which they gave
ef the Courts, and the information which they had collected.
When the Commission issued, -it was• intended that the Com-
missioners should inquire into .the establiahrnehts of nine Courts
of Jsestice. To tidal ostruction , however, there had been added,
"and all Civil and Criminal CoUrts in Scotland." Under this the
Conirnissioners had extended their inquiries to two Couits which
were not. Courts of Justice, the Lord Lyon's Cherh and: the
;pint of Chancery, both of which had been remarked upon by
the 'Noble Lord- The Lord- Lyoh in Scotland-west' the seine as
Garter King at Arms in England. It was his nrovince to grant
arms to these -who were. 'entitled to' obtain' them • but .it had
beaus represented that this :officer had taken upon liimself part:,
of the prerogative of the King, and had-granted supporters to
those who had no fair claim to 'any such 'distinction, in consi-
deration of a fee being paid to hirer. This being complained of;
ha (the Lord Advocate) bad tvconineended that an' injunction
should be sent down to restrain the. Lord Lyon; 'and proposed
• that if this failed to prove effectual, that recourse should be
- had to legal proceedings against the party. Such had been the
complaint of the •Commissioners, ardstien the course pursued
in consequence of that complaint. With respect to the Court of
Chancery, the Learned Lord rer.iarked, that in point of fact
there hever had been A Court of .fliancery in Scotland ; but
Cnancery of Mcotland consisted merely ;of' a Deputy and
.-orie. er two Clerks to ise.ne writs and record certain pro_.
,feedings. Ile' Co ea IS-siors &es „had rompl-sissitel :that to these-

Officers an undue allowance had been granted, and recom-
mended that those Offices, when the existing interest terminated,
should be regulated. This recommendation had not been fol-
lowed out, because . provision for it had already been made by
the 57th George HI. cap. 54, and consequently nothing further'
could be necessary. -Leaving those which were not Courts of
.Justice, he now. proceeded to notice what had. been said of the
other Courts. When he (the Loyd AdvoCate) came into office,
he found the wholeof these reports on the table. He imme-
diately attempted to carry the recommendations which -they
contained into effect. He had brought -in a Bill to embody
' some of them which had not' been opposed by the Noble Lord,
, and which the Commissioners, to whom it was first submitted
had approved, such. as it afterwards. passed. Thus, one of
, the Courts was regulated by the Act of Parliament. The
Court of Exchequer-it had not been necessary to deal with in
the same way, as an Act of the 6th Queen Anne, cap. 20, pro-
hibited officers in that. Court from taking higher fees than were
sanctioned by the Barons, and enabled them to punish such an
offence by fin or deprivation of office.- Effect had been given to
every one of the recommendations of the Commissioners on the.
subject of this Court under that Act of Parliament. With respect
to the Court ofJusticiary, a like power was given by another Act.
of Parliament, to which effect had been given-; efor some of the
reductions Suggested; as lee had found on calculation, that the sum
of three thousand pounds would be necessary to meet the
compensation which Justice _required them to give, lie had
judged it right to pause. He need not remind the' House
how the Commissary Court had been regulated, nor of the
opposition which the' Bill introduced for that purpose had ,ex-
perienced ; and he meat call the attention of the Muse to
the situation in which he was placed. When he did not come
forward with Bills to effect changes of importance, he was
charged with neglecting his duty; and whets he did do so, he
was opposed by the Noble Lord aaavery The Bill which
•be had last year introduced was to carry into effect the recom-
tout
eti mendons cf the Commissioners to abolish heavy fees_ to
the Courts in possession of respectable Judges—and to abolish
23 patent places which were in
the gift of the Crown. • In some
cases great credit had been clainted for dbing away one patent
place, -but never befbre (so far .as he was informed). had a
measure been proposed which at one s-weep put an end to 23.__
The bill, notwithstanding, was much opposed, and the House
even divided on the third reading. ' He was, however, happy to
know that-it was reedited as a boon in Scotland, and had given
theeitmoSt satiSfaietion.. He had introduced a bill to, reform
thehSlieriff's.enurt when a new Commission for Inquiry came-,
' down. He was then asked not to go forward with his bill
till the .Commissioners had- reported, and 'he had in conse-
quence given up the Measure after it had'been carried to a third .
reading. That these Courts were not very, mach to lie com-
plained of, might be inferred from the small member of appeals
to •the Court of-Session, which -were but as one to 117. He
had been prevented from interfering with the Borough Courts
by. reasons similar to those which had induced him not to press l
the Bill for regulating the Sheriff's Courts. With iespect to
the Courts or Justices, they at present transacted but a
"small portion of the civil business of the country. Sums not
exceeding five pounds might be recovered in them. The
Commiss:onets recommended that the sum to be recovered in
them shohld be Increased, and the Noble Lord complained
that this .was. not done. The subject was one on which great
differences prevailed. Some wished that the sums to be re-
covered in them should -he _extended to 101. or 151. Others
wished that but a small sum should-be recoverable in them, and
many wished tnem not to be altered. The question appeared
to him .entitled -to serious consideration. Where too great
facilities were afforded for the recovery of debts, it encou-
raged the imprudent giving of credit, and the fact it. miebt
not be improper to state,. that out of 212 persons confined in.
Edinburgh for debt, 132 were confined for sums not exceeding
N. That the Justices might be useful there if decisions were
made final, he- pointed out that there was a material difference.'
between these Justices acting as they did without a Jury, two
of them being a quorum, and the Magistrates acting at the
Quarter Sessions in England. The Bill on this subject, which
the Noble Lord had said he would bring in, lie (the Lord i
Advocate) should oppose, and recommend • that . the subject
of it sheuld be refhrred to a Select Coilernittee. It would, I
perhaps, surprise a part of -the House that the Justice of
Peace was generally so far- superseded by the Judge or
I the Sheriff, that at a Court of Sessions, the Justice was hardly
known. Any measure introduced relative to the Justices,
ought not • to be confined to their connection with the civil law,
but ought to extend to the criminal law. Ile thought it-would
he desirable to consider of, giving the Justices of Scotland the
same powers as were confided to Justices of Peace in Ping-
land. lie did not see why tile Gentlemen of Scotland should
not be trusted - with such. powers. They were not. at pre-
sent -so experienced in such matters as the country Gen-
tlemen of England, but the requisite knowledge lie was
confident might bs soon acquired. He, therefore, tiou_*sl-..t.
much benefit would result. from effecting ati alteration like
that which he contemplated, as it would in many cases save
individuals from many months of unnecessary confinement,
while the exercise of such powers would raise the charac-
tcr and add to the importance of the country Gentlemen in
Scotland. This- opinion he -had long entertaiped, and every
thing that lead transpired served but to strengthen and con-
firm it. At present the country Gentlemen of &otland were
not in the habit of coming forward to appease- any disturbance
that might break out. Thus in 1820, when some, disorders
occurred at GlasgoW, the Gentry of. the .neighbourhood, with
the Noble Lord opposite, left every thing to the Sheriff, and
quitted that part of, the country. What he wished was, that
the Sheriff should be taught to look up to them on such occa-
sions for that support and assistance which might be derived
'from their presence and influence. The Learned Lord con-
cluded by:briefly recapitulating the main points of his speech,
and left it for the House to decide whether after the explana-
tion he had offered, the motion of the Noble Lord was necese
sary.—(Hear, hear !)
Mr. ABERCROMBY hailed with satisfaction the impor-
tant reform announced by the Noble Lord. lie, for one, would
most cordially co-operate with •him in attempting to effect it;
and.he,- for one, returned his sincere thanks for the proposi-
tion intended to be brought forward. The House were much
mistaken if they supposed the duties perforined by the Magis-
trates of England were attended -to by the Justices of Scot-
land. They were more commonly thrown on the Sheriff's-
Deputy, and the Gentry were altogether excluded froth the
administration of the county. He was extremely anxious
to se Grand Juries introduced into Scotland, and the re-
form proposed to be- effected by the Learneel Lord, was,
in . his opinion, the fittest -preparation for such an improve-
ment. He wished, as the Learned Lord did, that the clues=
Lion as to the Courts of Justices should be referred to a
Committee ; and he hoped he would also refer it- to the
sauce Committee, to consider of the introduction. of Grand
Juries. tlf the Learned Lord declined doing so, he, (Mr.' A.),
should- move an amendment to his motion, in order to bring
that question before the Committee. The Learned Lord-had
not accounted for all the instances in which she Commissioners'
recommendations had been omitted to be attended to, and he
should therefore vote for the motion of his Noble Friend.
Lord BINNING had never heard a more satisfactory answer
given to a charge than the Hon. Lord had supplied. He thought
he had- suggested the.best course of proceeding with respect to
the Justice Courts, and believed the change which he contemn •
plated would prove of- great importance to the 'Gentlemen of
Scotland. He hoped his Learned Friend would penot abandon his plan for any prejudices which he mighthave
rsevere' and
to encounter. lie also hoped that it would tint be attempted to
measures which it would be difficult if not impossible' to carry
Into effect. -lie recommended-it to the Learned Gentleman to
reconsider . the subject-
Grand .Turies into Scotland, before he proposed the introduction of

Mr.HUME thought his Ncble Friend had not been answered.
The Learned Lord said,. when he came into office, he had found
the reports on the table a dead letter. He had then endes-
-voitred to:give them effect- Now, it was true that the Learned
--Lord bad done more than all his predecessors, but was not their
failing to act on them; year after year, a charge against the
Administration of the Country ? Where was the Secretary
of State for the Home Department all the time-
_that nothing
Was done to remedy.- or prevent this neglect ? With re-
Spect to the motion before the House, he could not. agree
that any of the statements of his Noble Friend had been an-
were& . Those receinmendations of the Commissioners had
not been attended to which Illinisters ought to have made. it
th.ii business to carry into effect. The Learned Lord how.
ever went off in high style, gave the go-by to the question, and
instead .of answering the Noble Lord, took upon himself' to in-
form them what it was intended to do. He approved of what
was intended, but considered that this was no answer to the pre-
sent motion, which he hoped his Noble Friend would press to
a div,ision.

„
Mr. KENNEDY wished to know if the Learned Lord hoped
to be enabled to.liiinig forward the measure which he had an-
nounced in the course of the present Session ?
The ;LORD ADVOCATE said that he was desirous tee
knowthe feeling.of his native country was.upon the sub-
ject before he proceeded to act, and therefore .could not give a
precise answer-.
A BERCROIKBY had expected, after what-the Noble
Lord said,. that the Committee was to.be moved for that very
night. ” He could' not suppose that the Noble Lord bed been
speaking. of something which had merely passed through his
mind, and that was to go back again to Scotland, and there to be
produced find knew when. He must say, that the ,vallie of
what the Noble Lord had previously said, was much diminished
by the explanation. : •
Mr. COURTENAY had shared in the satisfaction given by
his Noble and Learned Friend's declaration to the House ; and
be-coujined 'Jim not to be turned aside from those correct view::
which he knew him :to entertain upon the subject. He hap-
pened to know that there was a difference of opintin 'upon the
qUestion- ip• Seotland, but' he had no doubt that his Noble

Friend would be conferring a lasting benefit upon his native
country by the change.-(Hear I)
Sir R. FERGUSSON wished to know how the .Noble and
Learned Lord was to collect the opinion of his native country
upon such-a subject. - • • -
Mr:If:DOUGLAS thought his 'Noble and Learned Friend
.had bee. n-misunderttood. He had only stated that his own in-
rivdual opinion wa:s, in favour of the- measure, but naturally
•wished to consult the feelings of others, and therefore coUld
not say whether he shoild- have,tbrre to prepare himself in. the
present Session, or be obliged to wait till the next.
The' LORD ADVOCATE said, that he thought those who
knew him would not do him the injustice to suppose that he
had said one thing and meant another. lie did think, there-
fore, that he was hardly pressed when these question -with re-
gard to time were put to him. His impression at present was;
that be should go on this Session ; but under the circumstances
he could not pledge himself to that course.—(Hear, bear !)
Lord A. H A M IbTO_Ne. in reply, said; that any further de-
lay was only trifling with the country after the reports had
been before them for the laSt ten years. He could not rest
upon ambiguous promises of the Noble Lord, and should
therefore give the House an opportunity of expressing its opi-
nion upon the motion. The Noble Lord had very unwarrant-
ably accused him of running away at the time the riots were
expected at Glasgow. This was a part of the system which
had exposed him to every species of abuse. A Paper under
the protection of the Noble Lord and other official Gentlemen
• had been filled with gross slanders and abominable falsehoods
respecting his character. The assertion that he ran away was
totally unfounded, and the Noble Lord ought to have known
it. The fact was, that he wanted to leave Scotland at the time,
but remained on account of the reports that a rising was ex-
pected. After some time he went to Edinburgh to enquire at
the official sources whether there was any truth in the reports.
He first went to the Lord Advocate, whom he found absent,
not hunting radicals, but hunting for political votes at the ap-
proaching election. He next applied to the Solicitor General,
but found that he was also employed in the same Manner. fie
then went to the Commander-in-Uhief's office, and there found
that they had heard of the reports, but only laughed at them._
Upon these facts, he wished to know how the Noble Lord could
bring such an accusation against him as that of running away.
.—(A laugh.)
• After some further remarks from the Noble Lord the House
divided, when there apPe4red:-...-•
For the Motion 7 r 76
Against - - 124
-

• - Majority_
LAW OF SETTLEMENT.
On the opening of the Gallery, we found
Lord ALTHORP addressing the Hottse upon a Motion for
abolishing settlement by hiring and service. The Noble Lord
stated that the present practice created much litigation; and
frequent perjury at the Quarter-Sessions. Another ground
upon which he considered it injurious to the labouring classes
was, that it interfered with the freedom of labour, by inducing
masters•not to hire labourers out of their own parish if they
could possibly avoid it. He knew it would be objected to the
Bill that it increased tile difficulty of acquiring settlements.
But the present syStem was so imperfect, that its thought no
increased evil could arise from the proposed alteration. The
Noble Lord moved for leave to bring in a Bill to abolish settle-
ments by hiring and service.
Colonel WOOD said he should look at the Bill as an isolated
measure with considerable distrust, because it went to increase
the difliclulty of acquiring settlements, while his desire had
been to facilitate that object as much as possible. -Ile should
not 'oppose. the Bill, but in the Committee lie should move a
clause to enable persons to gain a settlement by the payment
of a certain air-milt of Poor Rates. With permission of the
House he would take that opportunity to state why he did
not again bring forward his Bill of last year. At the recommen-
dation of his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the
HOrne Department, the Bill was printed and sent into the prim-
Opal manufacturing towns. The opposition which it hail ex-
perienced in those quarters precluded his bringing it-forward
with a hope of passing it into a law at present. lie trusted,
hoWe'rer, that. the Agricultural districts would see their own
interests so as to take the matter up, and not allow their popu-
lation to be employed in labour by the manufacturers, and then
thrown back upon them for support.
. Air. CRIPPS anti Mr. LocKmin T made a few observations,
and leave was then given .to bring in the Bill.
Alr. ELLIS (of Dublin) obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
explain and amend the Act ofGeo. 111., for better ascertain-
ing the' amount and securing payment of bills of costs of Proc-
tors in Prerogative and Admiralty Courts.
AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS.
Mr. GIPPS moved for leave to bring in a Hill for the better
em iupina of Ax*~~
i‘rr. trAR,
rer: in the winter season.
watcluT, leave was given
to bring In the Bill.

POOR RATES.
. IVIr. T. COURITNAY moved that a Select Committee be
appointcd to considerthe returns of -all sums of money levied
for the support orthe•Poor in Englind -and Ireland for the
year ending 25th March, 1823, and to report thereupon to the
ilouse.—A Committee was forthwith appointed.

SALMON. FISHERIES.
Mr. KENNEDY role-to-move for the appointment of a Com-
mittee to inquire into the laws relating to the Salmon Fisheries
in Scotland. He regretted that the subject had not been brought
for Ward by a Member of the Government, but he had every
confidence that he . should receive their support. The Hon.
Member proceeded to state that these interests were so important
as to have attracted the early attention of the Scotch Par-
liament, and gave an historical account of the Acts relating
thereto. -Those laws were nOw in a most defective state, and if
it was the pleasure of the House that a Committe should he ap-
pointed, it would he their business to examine into all the sub-
ordinate details. lie thought it expedient, upon public con-
siderations, that that House should undertake an inquiry into
regulated so important a property. He
dtlide
nboodtyexopfelcatwthsawt
llicil
a Committee could come to any conclusion
this Session, but
but they might report their proceedings to the
House and be revived in the following year, to found any mea-
sure that might be deemed necessary. He moved that Select
Cominittee be appointed to consider the state of the Salmon
Fisheries of the United Kingdom, and of the Laws affecting
the same ; and to report the minutes of evidence, with their
observations thereon from time to time to the House.
Mr. C. GRANT said, he should have thought it better if
the motion had been deferred-to another Session. The subject
was of much more importance than it It first appeared, involv-
ing many ancient private rights of the most sacred
na asture. ilt'dhetlite thought it possible to inquire, consistently with
the character of those rights, into the laws which regulated and
protected them. All he desired was to prevent alarm on the
part of those whose private property was affected. He was sure
that any interference with such property was not the intention
of the Legislature, and be was quite sure that there was no
such intention on the part of the Hon. Mover.
Mi.. KENNEDY explained briefly, and a Committee was
then appointed. •
Mr. ARBUTHNOT moved for leave to bring in a Bill for
certain purposes connected with the land revenue.
Mr. G. BENNET adverted to a church which was building
in the New Street, and complained of the bad style of architec-
ture. He wished to know the architect. The names of several
persons bad been mentioned, and he was desirous of putting the
saddle on the right horse.--(A laugh.)—He would willingly
pay, not for the erection, but pulling down of the building.__
The Hon. Member objected to the general style of building
conspicuous in the new churches built under the late Act.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT did not wish to name the Architect.--
(Cry of. " Name, name !")—The name of the Gentle man was
Nash ; and looking to the works of that artist, he might say, if
the Church in question did not do him credit, others would.
USKISSON
.said he had not seen the Church al-
luded to.

The motion was then agreed to, and leave given to bring in
the Bill. ALLIEN..BILL.

On the motion of Mr. Secretary PEEL, the second reading
of the Allien Bill was postponed. to Friday.
The Report of the Customs Acts wee received, and the Reso-
lutions agreed to. _