The Sun.
London, England, 1819-12-24 00:00:00

FRES (1-1 PAY NI ENTS

Mr. Hume referred. to the articles in the late
treaties, by which the French Government %vas
bound to pay certain sums .to England, of which
1,403,0001. was payable to nine monthly instal-
ments, coarmenciog with last January. Ile wish-
ed to ascertain if this stun had been paid, and
what had come of it. lie also referred to a se-
COlld • sum due upon the same Wades, and moved
for an account of all sums payable by the French
to the English Government, not applicable to the
claims o 1 English creditors, with many particulars
as to dates and application.
The CHANCELLOR of the ExCHEQUER lammed
the lion. Gentleman that these accoonts-could
not he produced. The stock stood in the names
of the Commissioners appointed for the liquida-
tion of the "claims of British subjects, and no part
of it had been disposed of by ibis Government.
With regard to the other summit referred to, it
bad. been applied, agreemble to treaty, towards
the.ereetion of the fortifications on the frontiers
of the Netherlands. This had been authorized
by Parliament, and the appiication had prevented'
the diversion of an equivalent sum voted in the
supplies for 1818. The surplus world be avail-
able for the. service of the present year. As it
was founded on mistake, be recommended to the
Hon. Gentleman to withdraw his motion.

‘Vitti this advice, alter two or three retuarks,
Mr. Hume complied.

DRURY-LANE TIIEATRE.

.
Mr. CALCBAFT brought sip the Report on IJI ury7
Lane Theatre, and leave was given to bring in a
Rill to alter the two former Acts relative to that
House.

---.---- „......;.: t.,4, olace As., !op the order of
ig, which Mr. Irvine, tile tAtanceilOr of thie Ex-
chequer:null Mr J. Sundt, took part, but the
matter was qiikre inaudible in the Gallery.
_ __ BLASPHEMOUS LIBELS BILL.

Lord CASTLERf3AOII moved flit! Order ot the Day
for the Committee on the Bldspitemotts Libels

On the !piestion that the Speaker do leave the
Chair,

Mr. BERNAL opposed it,_•. and once more pro-
tested against this measure•, especially against the
clause imposing the punishment of banishment.
This, he contended, bad not formed a part of our
laws-for 200 years, and its sevival woulA involve
us in great difficulties. Among. those which he
put to the consideration of the Law Officers of the
Crown, were the• following :—that banishment
entailed npon the party all the effects of attain-
der; tl►nt it cotrupted the blood; that it was fir
too severe for the offence ; and that, it for life, it.
ousted the subject from his allegiance. Upon
these, 'and other embarrassments,. he trusted the
Learned Gentlemen would reflect, and also inform
him it the children of a banished man were or
were not in the situation of natives of the soil ? It
was al•o an important inquiry how or ws•here a,
poor m in, it banished, was to transport himself.
• iVe 'might be, as we had, been, at War with the
whole world, and if we were not, be mig6t have
no conveyance to R distant country. The effect
of the bat (Ishii) of this punishment would be, that
Juries would ❑ot convict under the Act for a se-
cond lihrl, but commit a pious fraud to let the
criminal escape.
Mr. JAMES GOaDON, in a very low tone of woke,
supported the measure. Ttre Gentlemen .opposite,-
undcr the assumption, that they were advocating
the rights of the people, were in fact supporting
the pretensions of a licentious rabble. Many of
those who wete loud for Reform in that House
had better• begin by reforming their o►vu vicious
habits, and attending diligently to the duties of
their own stations. it they did so, the, clamour
for change would have less food as well as fewer
partisans. •

Onilie question being put,
do leave the Choir,"

" That the Speaker

Mr. DENMAN said, before the Speaker left the
Chair, he was deshons of offering -a few observ'a-
lions which had occurred to him on the details of
this. Bill• lie hitherto abstained in what he had
troubled the House with, from adverting to any
thing bur the general principle of this aid all the
other measures connecter) with it. He would not
go into the question, of which be (nought too
much had been said already, as to the propriety
or impropriety of the • conduct of his Majesty's
Attorney and Solicitor• General. Ike saw vt.ith
pleasure the' mild exercise tibia, in their
capacities, they made of the large powers
intrusted to them. But if three years ago .any
one bud told him that they would have allowed
themselves to be made the instrument of bring-
ing sach,l3lll's as these into ParliAtnent, he would
bave been ready to offer the last of insults to that
person ; and have felt it his bounden duty, as a
man of principle and honour himself, to have vin-

;neared their character from so foul (as be should
have conceived a charge.—(lleitr, hear, hear!)
—He wo.old noroatigue the House with that com-
mon species of declamation on the Liberty of the
Press, Which, however, ,he was tar from mulers
sraheine. glie, great objection which had been
tirgid7aagaioshlie Libel Oillshwatin co..rtsolti,e!ice
of those ptiovisiots‘AriCh- went to vest in the
hands of individual Magistrates the unlimited
power of banishing the most respectable persons
who should. !lappet) unwittingly
to offend..against
the mere wording of the Act. In reply to what
the Hon. Gentleman on the other side had said,
" Do you.think-it likely nr possible that:the Jus-
tices of this land will ever make such use of their
powers ?" He would say in answer to this, that
lie did think so ; and, as a proof that he was cor-
rect in his supposition, • lie would cite an in-
stance in which such an arbitrary exercise had
aheatly been made of the discretiouary power
of Magistrates. Two respect able London
Booksellers, Messrs. Johnson and Cuthell,
had been committed to gaol for a tertn of
nine. months, for having been convicted, the
one of piloting, and the other of poblishing,
a book, %vhich, it was to be observed, it appearel
that Mr. Cuthell, who published it, teas nut
aware that it. was in his shop, till he !can't that
five copies of it had been sold oat of twenty that
were in the house. It was necessary to state that
both these Gentlemen were unacquainted with
the tendency of the. work in qoestion: which
being ft production of Mr, NValsefield,--his reply
to the Bishop of.Landaff,--bad been received as
being entirely of a littoary nature, in common
with the rest of his winks, which bad been print-
ed and published by them. Thus, therefore, from
pure inadvertency on the part of these Gentle-
, men, had they been compelled materially to stiffer,
in all probability in health and fortune, at all
events in point of comfort ! No such powers
should be entrusted to the discretion of any Court
in Europe. Independently of this part of the 11111
' being iitijnst, it was impolitic; for where would
-bc the difficulty, particularly when smuggling
was earlier! to such a height in the country, to
have printed the most infamous libels on the Con-
' tinetit, and send them over here to be published
by persons whose necessities were such, that
banishment or it were matter of in-
difference to them ? An instance of this he had
met with in the Poem of a cat twin Noble Lord
on the subject of some events which had taken
place at Athens. This work, he was sure, no
one would be able to hod a hinter or a Pob-
lisber for in this country ; but Galignani• at
Paris had toitited it, mod it was now freely cir-
culated throughout the kingdom. Ile knew it
might be said to this, that the Govertar-ot were
in col respondence wit b all the Governments
on the Coutipent, and they would take care that
no persons in these realms should tamper• wirb
our interests. It might, indeed, he consiiered an
advantage by some, this to have a holy brother-
hood cemeuted in the bonds of amity against the
liberty of the Press throughout the whole of Eu-
rope. Anroher pats of the Bill, to which he
wished to call the attention of the !louse, was,
the clause which permitted the search of private
houses for the discovety of libels. The cirCiitio-
stance in this chose which excited the must Sur-
was given bY'ff-,1-fiii;t~lUe' ht of Search
01
publishers, but also of the
.eomposers of these Li-
no
lboe4lll. t
trho his,
btiliceirleofir.!sree
toi wastwrit e eat) t t
libel in his
closet, was to be allowed to do so under the pe-
nalty of having his house entered, and. his Most
private papets ransacked. Could not any Ho-
nourable Member of that House be subjected to
havi his papyri- iansacked in his absence, for the
Court would be forced to .grant a 'search for the
house of any person upop an affidavit. Any one
could then he exposed to be placed in this situation
through the malice of some servaint who wished to
ruin him, or of some informer who 'might wish
to curry frivotir with Gbvernnient. This Act, he
added, would
,have the effect of opening a door
to abuses, by putting iri operational! the bad pas-
sinus of onianjiature, as no Act had ever open-
ed before. Reference had beeti'matle to the 3Gth
of Geo. I II;as being parallel 'to die present mea-
sures on the :Press. This Ace, it was to be re-
membered, was passed at a time than treason was
at an alarming height in the (niony, and set out
with the ivords, " If any one shall maliciously
sod advisedly write, publish, . or speak a treason-
able libel, tending to excite to immediate sedi•
tion, &c." That act therefore was very different
horn the present Acts, which affeet'elqually those
who by design or itiadveitancel commit the of-
fence ; and that Act was only, thought necessary
to be put in force for three years. The Hon.-and
Learned Gentleman concluded, liis observations by
declaring, that lie would not have troubled the
House •witb them if he had not felt them so
strongly as he had done.
Mr. Maurits' (of Galway) stated, that it had
-been demonstrated that hauishmtot was far from
a punishment new in'the Eriglifli law ; this proved
it was wane of time to debate that question.—
Suppose it; for argument, that it was now pro-
posed to he enacted for the first time, was forgery
of Bills of Exchange-, or any promissory notes for
money, felony or death, before comparatively re-
ct:ftt statues made them so ? What would it be
said of tookiiig it a felony to cut the stnallesi tree
in the night time, or to steal in a bleach glee!).
Far, very far was he hour vindicating the sanction
of these laws, for he strongly reprobated their se-
velity ; but tile principle of Parliamera was, ,r hsan
such crimes were elesersing of the pitni-lontOt
directed by the statutes making•such olfences.
felony or death. Those then who vote for the
lianishmenz case of the second olfi.nce of
publishing a Seditious mud Blasphemous Lihel;
having been convicted the. second rime, will
vote upon the pt inciple he before stated,, namely,
that the crime is worthy iif such punishment, anti
could nor be prevented by any less severe coact-
went. Then, as to the Liberty of the Press, in
his OpilliOn.filat Hill terrain perfectly undisturbed
as it was before the passing any one nt.r.hoie laws,
liberty of the press consisting in allowing authors
the uorestricted permission to prim their opinions.
on sidsjects unfettered by pieviotts censor Ship.•
It cannot be matter ot, complaint that 111`blirsplre-
:per of his God, and the promoter of rebel:jolt
against his King, should find some difficulty

protitdog ti printer to publish his Voeliiositieic::.
The setters of the type he considered as coenected
with authors, at their instruments for circulating
their opinions on Government, tradk, or politics. I,
When those laws shall pass, *lll nollauthes nd
,it
persons readx-ao becon üblishers of tat' '4
ought toil rtiiitishei ?: \Vl‘k it li:rti triin t( y
'a
P.
n air?hdr; that a 'Hinter 'shall be obtig Itogive
..
security in a penal soot not to publish that which.
the law bad before forbid him to publish, undo'
the penalty of fine and imprisonment ? Out of
doubt, sonic few who now print and Cannot find
security for 3001. may be excluded. Almost all.
however, who have types and a press are worth
30W or can find friends who would so: far con"- .
fide in their good conduct as to become security
for. the penal sum 'required. Senile then have
neither 3001. or can find persons to be bound for
them. Those persons, then., ape situated as all
persons are who tollo.v any trade, with the tarry-
ing on of which the Legislature may think fit (0
intermeddle. Why ate witnesses attending Courts
of Justite ptivileged from arrests?. Is it to sub.
stiact their persons from their et editors ? I an-
swer, they are protected, and the right of the,
creditor to have the p( rson of his delvor must give
.vay to the right Cat the party who fitids it neces-1
sat yto have his testimony. I amconfident had
II hiS measure been disrotied of party considerations,
I it would be hailed as a blessing to the country.
The dreadful conse.quenees of. thiS crime extend.,
from the Throne to the humble cottage Suppose
the Republican or the Black Dwatt should say.
yesterday was the Settling Day at, the Stock En-
chance., and there were some defaulters, and one.,
for 400,0001.; and lie •has nfl red, we ate told;.
but 3s. Gd. in the ponnil as_ composition. Now
suppose such an iudividual to have the honour of
being matriculated into the party of -Opposition.
what climour shoold we hear ! and who of the' e'
strenuous ooposeri of these laws would object to
give to private character that protection which is
now afforded to our God, and. to our King, arid
to the Constitution of Great Britain. Novi',
Sir, for a cre to win the vote ot'a Worthy A'-f
dermal' in front (Alderman Wood), here w e go 0
(A laugh.)—Extract from the Black Dwart :-- f
Children made into pies.—([louse convulso 1
with laughter.)—The police, last night, discover.,
eel in Aldermau Birch's kitchen four flue fat iu
tants, age of four years, rintouithed, and five o f
six more cut up, and. in a state of pre pa rat Lot I
to be inanufactored into Bistwinel .Yates, In in' „
mote tender than young. chickens."—(Roars o f
laughter.)—Ole•would ask the .eorthy Magistrat c
opposite, whether he would not join io paisio
laws' to piotect honest industry and fair fam t
trout such attacks ? He then %you'd- ask hiS vot, r
for the present Bill;, supper; teal on like.principles t
hut applicable to.higher.interests,—the pteserva •
tion or our cottony,
Mr. BANKCS was decidedly` in favour of the pre
I sent measures for the restriction of the Press.- 1 1
I was a very -proper provision that publication
.t
which had beet' decided. in ft Court of Lay.?
to be libellous,. should be seized upon atey;
attempt to continue
.o.r tepublish tee same • I
It was well kuown what an AricreasAl s,il,:'
works derived from chcomstances of liot'olri{,.:.r
of :this description tatending theUti, He tioeij
1 avow it as his opiniiin, that the people at Jaree
were not dissatisfied with the measures of rite pre-
t . A .1...:"; clratinn If It %vete nos‘iirlc Co :a"'
! ihe opiuino of the Nation by conversing Kith it,
!aim by man, it would be found that the large Ma° •
pnity thought that they'were b;und to Wank P.Jr`
liarneut for the wise steps and precautions which/
it had adopted. Eh thought that the system of
edecation had been carried to such a lit ight it'
this country that it bad placed the people in ti,
condition tonally different troth what had I.een an-
ticipated or intended by its original projectors -1-
Tl.ey omitted to do what they 013011 to have
(folic, viz. to have' put some restriction on the
press, to prevent' the possibility of its arriving sc
the state of abuse in which it at present Was.--'
The class of Gentlemen in that House' calli;'K
themselves Whigs, stoke of.the liberty of Oa
press as being in a manner the vital air of a ire'
State This was a neM notion which they t,a4
imbibed since the days of their boasted ancestors
of the sime principles. As a_plo at of this,. Ito
would remind these Gentlemen, that in the Bill of
liighls,fr framedwhat I shouldcall 1 heroic,
amee in- he

days of Wiriggisth, the Liberry of the Yr ess was
entirely overlooked as arricle ; and reitriction4
on the Press continued for six years after the He.
volution.

Mr. J. P.-GRANT wasnincli surprised- that the
Hon. Member should think the diffusion of know-

ledge an►ongst the lower orders of the..peuple
circumstance rather •to be repressed tl►arn enem►t-`.
raged. %VW' such an opiniem he did rot xvondtr

at his Voting for those Bills, %sitich, in opposidoo.
to the Noble Lord (Castlereagh), ht (Mr. Grant)
declared to be restraints npotrthe Liberty of 0;(1
Press. lie would notesiter intil any eplogiatil
the press ; he left that_ to those who were about to
impose -hackles on it.—(Hrar 1)—No one, he'

say betoCelland %vliat would be

the con,equences of banishment. A L',ill of pains
and penakies played (he ascer•
rained sittihti..ll.' he conceived, was

flit in a tit, stale to legislateperthotient ineistire9-
The strite of ktlArth and rtgittiloo prevailed
both within, anti withotit tVai Stith as t°

prevent tho..4Jouse froili.l,ing, a deliberate view

of the vase they were caller) to legislate tipoo ;
the mote so, as the fears out of don: s• were Ina-gfli.
tied to such a ititeit as .ten(!e red it jot possible (0`
obtain Correet irtforinat iOts: As' an instam-e of

this, We' I.Votiid refer iiirlfooe lo.the state of his

own cbnotry. In Edintanrgirsnoh was the panic
chlt the gal kW'. 01 the C,“ller (1401SISting 011000
Vuonaihnry, had lately.,hpeo twitcher) to GlAsgow,
and in their tibsener, the J.9.tri Prc,ideut of the
Court of Session, a tide utiniv4ilent with that of

the Loi (I Chancellor in Itkici taken the

CornIMIMI of the tot tress, -Alifi eVtl y•m-nroilig be".

lore he went to the Court, iwirrhe-.1 to aotlfrorli

the Castle, and treat throng!) the regular core'
many of parading atid changing gu,rtl, of th a !ICA/
of a troop t•t' Volunteer*. In sneh a disjointed'

state of society, he repeated, nu correct in:ormtv

ion conid I) „brained.

Lord BINNING proved, that• the spirit of d!",
affection had been active in tire nest
so much so that it had become iit'ccssary to wirl',l
draw the troops from tlie city of 'Ediubur&b,

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