The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-18 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 17.
The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Menial
Servants' Bill. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Maryborough. Amongst
the Private Bills were-the Bermondsey Improvement Bill, and
the Mersey Canal Bill.

PRISON CONSOLIDATION BILL.
On the notion of Lord 'SIDAIOUTII, the Prison Con.
solidatinn Bill was ordered to be read a third time,to-morrow.
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT BILL.
Their Lordships having gone into a Cammittee on this Bill,
Mr. TYNDALL appeared at the Bar, and was beard
Counsel on behalf of the Clerks of the Peace in Ireland,
against a Clause in the Bill, which regulates the Fees of Clerks
of the Peace. The Learned Counsel, in his argument, con-
tended, that the Clerks of the Peace had a vested tight in
Fees, and-that the Dill unjustly interfered with that right. He
prayed that witnesses might be heard in tlitir behalf at the Bar.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that although there
might be an estate for life in the office, the fees might still be
open to the interference of Parliament,.
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE'contended that, on every
ground of justice, the parties ought to be heard by their wit-
nesses. In his opinion, many things had passed in another
place not very creditable. The interests of individuals were
swept away without any compensation having been given.—
There were no less than three Committees of. Commons sat on
the Bill, and a great deal of evidence was taken—but no evi-
dence whatever was taken by their Lordships. The Noble Earl
concluded by moving—that the persons attending as witnesses
in the case might be called in and sworn, and that M'Creagh
(one of the witnesses) might be examined.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said,
,that if the House was
of opinion that the Clerks of the Peace had not a vested
right in those fees, it would not be necessary to call any wit-
nesses. The Clerks of the Peace did not, during the last
Session, discover that the fees allowed by the Bill were inade-
quate; they took no steps whatever, and only found that they
had cause of complaint when they discovered that some alter-
ation had been made with respect to the salaries of Clerks of the
Crown.

The Earl of DONOUGHMORE explained.
The Earl of HARROW BY said, that it was impossible that
the House could be able to learn from witnesses whether the
fees were inadequate or not.
Lord lIELMORE said, the duties of the Clerk of the Peace
and the Clerk of the Crown were very different—the duties
of the former were much greater. The fair way of dealing
with the question was not to say that persons at a lower sum
might be procured to do the duties of the office ; it must cer-
tainly be the wish of the House to have those duties discharg-
ed by competent and respectable persons, at the most reasona-
ble rate.

The Earl of LIMERICK said, that the apprehensions that
the Clerks of the Peace were not sufficiently remunerated were
perfectly groundless. He denied that these officers had any
vested right in the fees of their offices. By the Ist and 2d of
the King their fees were to be regulated by the Grand Jury ;
could it then be contended that Parliament had not an equal
power with Grand Juries ?

The Earl of CLARE was'of opinion that the remuneration
given by the Bill was sufficient.
After a few words from the Earl of DONOUGHMORE,
Couhsel was called in, and asked what were the points on which
he wished to have evidence called?

Counsel replied, that he wished to examine witnesses to prove
the average amount of fees received by Clerks of the Peace for
a limited time past ; the general duties of Clerks of the Peace ;
and'the general nature of the duties of Clerks of the Crown, fur
the purpose of comparison.
He was then asked whether he was prepared to give evidence
as to the amount of the ancient fees He answered, that the
evidence he had at present did not go so far.
After .a short conversation betwowthe Lord Chancellor,
Earl Donoughmore, and Earl DazAje,Y, the motion was nega-
tived without a division.
Several clauses of the Bill were then agreed to.
The House resumed, anti the Report was then received, and
the Bill ordered to be read a third tune on Monday.
The House adjourned at Eight o'Clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKEtt took the Chair at a quarter before 4 o'clock,
soon after which he was summoned by the Deputy Usherof the
Black Rod to the House of Peers, to bear the commission read
forgiving the Royal assent to several bills.' On his return, he
informed the House of the several public and private Bills to
which the Royal assent had been given.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PETITION RESPECTING
THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN IRE-
LAND,

Sir H. PARNELL, in postponing his motion respecting the
Roman Catholic endowments of schools which stood for to-day,
to (we think) to-morrow week, took the ttpportunity of asking
his Learned Friend, whether it was his intention to present to-
morrow the petition of which he had given notice.
!Jr. BROUGHAM was anxious that the question should be
brought on as early as possible. There were many Irish Mem-
bers now absent,. and the number of such must be increasing
every day. He would in compliance (as we understood) defer
presenting it until to-morrow week, on which day he would po-
shivery submit it to the !louse; sinless some arrangement
should be made in Ireland, which might render farther delay
desirable. In that case, he would defer it altogether to the next
Session.

BEER DUTIES BILL.
The CHANCELbOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
third reading of this Bill. It was accordingly read u third time.
On the question that it do pass,
Mr. MABEEIX objected to the measure as most unjust in
principle. It obliged brewers to erect the new works aluded
to in the Bill at a distance from their preont premises, and at
great expence—to try an experiment which might not succeed.
To marl his opinion of such a measure, he should take the
sense of the House on it.

3lr. HUME also objected to this measure, and entreated
that it might be allowed to Stand over till the next Session.
Mr. Alerman C. SMITH said a few words against the Bill.
Mr. B. COOPER supported it.
_

__ _ ..
Mr. MONCK opposed it, and contended it was by no means
calculated to remedy the evil which it affected to remove; for
though any man may erect a new brewery in any town, with
the view of selling under the price he found there, still the
Magistrates would have the power of preventing the vending
(which power was the great cause of all the monopoly), by
refusing licences to new houses where the new beer might be sold.
The House then divided—
For the Bill, 64 I Against it, 26 I Majority, 38.
PRIZE MONEY DISTRIBLTTION BILL.
On the Motion of the CitAxcEr.t.on of the EXCHEQUER,
the House went into a Committee on this Bill.
Mr. HUME objected to the great delays which so 'often
took plact in the distribution of prize money, and hoped they
might be remedied. .
' Dr. PIIII4LIMORE said, the present measure was intro-
' ducal to remedy a defect in some Acts passed a few years ago,
for regulating the distribution of prizes to foreigners in the
of the delays complained
British service (in consequence of which defect the money due
to foreigners was still undistributed).
from them-
After a few words from Mr. HUME and Mr. M. A. TAY-
Lon, which were not audible in the gallery,
erroneous impression
on this subject, which ought to be removed,
°s
them-
selves. :bits :t 1 C 1
oA"N
TherewN hitSre seemed saidde
dc lat
oi claims
) thatrsr et v° amanyiPl r iaz e
veryln" " arose
It was that of
persons making applications by round-about ways, and through
personal favour, instead of a direct application to the depart-
ment which had charge of such affairs. As far as his observa-
tion went, he had seen every possible facility given to the claims
of those who made their application directly to the proper of-
fice.—(Hear !)
Mr. W. WILLIAMS bore testimony to the readiness with
which prize claims, when made direct to the Prize.ofliee, were
attended to.
After a few words from Sir I. Caryl:sr, who complained of
the frauds practised on the unwary seamen by Jews, with re.
spect to their prize-money, the House resumed, the report was
brought up and agreed to, and the Bill order 1
et to be read a
third time to-morrow.
LONDON BRIDGE BILL.
Sir G. COCKBURN brought up the report of this Bill,
which was agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third
time on Friday.
CHIEF BARON O'GRADY,
Mr. S. RICE moved that the House do resolve itself into a
ccnumittee to consider of the conduct of the Chief Baran oldie'