The Sun.
London, England, 1819-05-07 00:00:00

'l'll6 111ARKETS.

CORN-EXCHANGE, MAY 7.—The supply of English Wheat
sir.ce Monday has been very small, yet what little appeared
this martiing met heavy sale, in consequence of a reduction
of ss. per sack in the price of Flour; Fine Fresh Barley
obtained Monday's prices, but there was no demand for the
ordinary qualities; Oats are Is. per quarter lower, and dull
sale at that decline, except for Fresh Corn, which sold rather
freely.-1H Beans and Pease there is no alteration.

smInnIELD, IIIAY 7.
Our Market was tolerably well supplied with prime Beasts
this loornitig, and Sales very brisk in the early part, bet
prices remain nominally as last Monday; the show of Sheep
and Lambs was pret, y good for this day's Market, but the
trade was he no nwaps brisk, and prices were cheaper than
on last 51arl.'t•day; Veal was dearer, but few sales male;
Pork was the same in price as our last quotations.--The bn-
siness in the Hay M:u•ket was brisk Ibis morning, and many
buyers at Market ; tine samples fully maintained last 'Mon-
day's pr ices, the ordinary descriptions were 3s per
cheaper: Ii ad
Clover seas cull sale, and cheater than last week.;
Straw was also dull sale, and full 4s. per load cheaper.

HOUtE CWIAIONS.

-[Contitmi from our preceding Columns.]
REFORM OF TIE,. SCOTCH BURGHS.

Petitions eve.re presented by Mr. Hump. anal
Lord A. HAMILTON, horn Aberdeen, the -Poo gh
of Anstrtober, and several other places, praying
for a Reform in Scotch 13tirghs.—Ordered to he
on +he table.

Lord A. HAMILTON, in again bringing die si-
tuation of the Scotch Burghs before the Ileuse.
disclaimed for the Petitioners all intent ioe of de-
in:tech fig a Parliamentary Reform. Their object
was merely- to obtain a reform of the system act-
ed upon with respect to the Scotch Borghs. Teat
system, he coetended, was one of injustice ; and
the grievances of which the Petitiouers
were of a nature that demanded redress, and in
every point of view it was most desirable that
the subject should he sent to a Committee. He
referred to the Petitions on the table, and read
from them various alleged acts of injustice and
corruption, and appealed to the House if they
could stiffer such statements to lie on their table
without making them the subject of a setious in-
quiry. That the evils complained of were great
he could prove even front the records of the
Council of Aberdeen, in which it was stated
that the system 1.73 S such, that no man could,
under the present system, administer the affairs
of the Burgh with credit to himself, or with jus-
tice to the community. With such a body. of facts
before the Manse, detailed in the Petitions already
presented, and in the Report of the Committee
of the House, lie could not believe that the Home
would refuse to it pire into the subject. The
whole coosiituted a case of such magnitude and
enormity, that for the sake of sound policy, and
even of. estice, it called for inquiry. One of the
aegemeuts against it was, that the Articles of
the Union prevented .any thing of the kind. But
be maintaieed that there was not a show of rea-
son for this aesertion. It it was an inherent right
in the Borceighs to go oe in the present. system of
fraud and injustice, and if all this must he ceder-
ed, then, indeed, the Articles of the Ueion might
be insisted on. But the case was evidently one
.which the House ought to entertain, and thus the
question came to be as to the mode in which the
House should interfere. fie was .not prepared
with any specific plan. But the outrage upon
the large part of the population was such, and
had existed so long, that the House could not,
consistently with its duty, pass it over any longer.
He coucluded by moving, that the several Peti-
tions presented front the Royal Burghs of Scot-
land be referred to a Committee:
Mr. w, Dermas said, that he should not have
risen to a;hlress the House at this thne, if it were
not that he was so situated that he conceived it
his duty to stibmit his sentiments to the House.
The Noble Lord had been particularly tintortu-
nate in saving (while he admitted that his purpose
was to make the Elections mote powder) that he
-meant nothing like reform. The motion now
before the llouse was neither more nor less than
for a rattle:li reform. Now, though lie opposed
this motion, he would not be understood as ob-
jecting to the removal of any evil which had cut
iota. the system ; but he could not agree to do
that which went to the destruction of the whole
system iteelf.—(l3ear, hear !)—The Noble Lord,
indeed, took up the argument against his
motion derivsd from the Articles of Union,
but he dropped it very soon. The truth. was,
that the Articles of the Union, as confii ming the
settlement of 1469, most he wholly overthrown be-
fore this motion could be agreed to. But thee it
bad beets said, that die system of Borough
Elec-
tions had been much corrupted, slid ought to be
reformed. This was a question which, as it re-
ferred to England, had often been discussed in
this House; and the abuses of Old Sarum, and
other close Boroughs, had afforded a theme for
many a fine declamation on the degeneracy of the
deice. Yet the House had never been induced,
by any of the many speeches, arguments, and mo-
tions of this subject, to consent to such a reform
as was called for, or to drink that it could be at-
tempted withoet danger. If such then had been
the decisioe of the Ilouse, and if the close Bo-
roughs of England had not yet been subjected-to
the innovations radical reformers, he saw no
reason why the Royal Burghs of Scotland should
be delivered over to such dangerous expel-inters-
ters.—(Hear, hear !)
Mr. Patmaosa maintained, that, the object of
the petitioners was not a Parliamentary Reform,
but only a reform in the election of the Corpora-
tion by the But gesses. The- late Lord Melville,
when Lord Advocate of Scotland, had reformed
the Constitution of the Bergh of Stirling in this
way; and the present Lord Advocate, following
that example, gave tn.YAliontrose a Cmistitirion
similar in principle. It had been objected, that
it would be dangerous to enter into such a Com-
mittee as was moved for, because it was against
the Articles of Union. If this were true, then it
was to be observed, that the Government, in
the cases of Stirling told Montrose, had acted
its defiance of the Articles of Union. It was,
however,- to be observed, that the Articles of
Union reserved to the Scots Ilerglis all
their lights and privileges. Whoever looked
at the Act of 1469, must see that before that time
it was usual to have an annual election of the
Council, who, according; to the Learned Lord,
were eligible for lite. It was not denied front
am quarter that the fiords of Scotch Burghs had
beer squandered. The property of the Burgh
was hi fact the property of the Burgesses, and
all that they now asked was, that they might have
some controul over those who matiaged that Pros
perry. Lie knew that giving this eontrohl would
lieve the effect of extending the elective free-
chise, and of producing a change in the Parlia-
aneutary Represeteatiou, Ile was not afraid to
siy, that this was one of his re,asaris tor the
toetion.

Mr. W. DOUGL:AS said that he was anxious to
Cate the r,easons why he should vote tor the too-
Hon of the Noble Lord. He was not one of those
sivho entertained viiionary or extravitt;Ant notions
on the subject of Parliamentff.Reform; but so '
many erroneous opinions prevailed on this sub-
ject of the-Scotch Burghs, that the only eray.in,
which it appeared to him that those errors could J

be corrected, and the mob satisfactorily ascer-
tained, was by referring the Petitions to a Com-
mitter. it was I►lainly the opinion of the Go-
vernment themselves. that the merely passing a
Bill for auditing the Burgh Accounts would not
redress the abuses that existed in the Scotch
Burghs, for they had granted an entirely new set
for the Burgh of Montrose.
Mr. linswv.t..l, thought it very strange that Hon.
Member, who were at all acquainted with thl.
bearings of this question should persevere in
holding out hopes which rhey must know could
never he realized without danger. He thought
that alterations in the set of Burghs were not
eonsi,tent with ti)e Articles of Union.

Mr. J. P. GRANT thought, that when ail the
evils complained of in the Petitions befote the
House were fully considered, the possibility, re-
mote as it was, that a compliance with their
prayer might ie some small degree affect the pre-
Seta system of Parliamentary Representation, was
no reason tor rejecting them altogether. All that
the House was called upon to do now was, what
the House had done in 1793. All that was want-
ed was, that the incorporated burgesses should
elect their own officers, and that the officers should
not elect themselves. Whoever could see in
this any thing like Annual Parliaments and
Universal Suffrage, or a Westminster Elec-
tion, must have a mind very strangely consti-
tuted. The most learned Lawyers in Scot-
land had given it as their opinion that the bur-
gesses were liable for debts contracted by the cor-
poration. If this then was the case, he would
ask whether it was not a sufficient reason for the
petitioners coming to Parliament without imput-
ing to them mischievous intentions on the subject
of Parliameetary Reform.
Lord BINNING thought that the question ought
to be set at rest by negativing the motion. Al-
though the question was no doubt of interest in
Scotland, lie did not think it had produced any
degree or agitation there. He believed that the
great body of the petitioners were Parliamentary
Reformers. They did not profess that their ob-
ject was Parliamentary Reform, because they
knew it they stated it to he such, their petitions
would not he attended to by the House, but they
hoped by their assumed moderation to gain the
attention of those who were not unwilling to
favour an amendment in any partial errors which
might he proVed to exist ie the administration
of some particular Burghs. Such were the rno-
tive,z, lie thought, on account of which many
of theepetitioners concealed their ultimate designs.
He thoaght that there were strong motives ; and
he could not but be surprised at the simplicity of
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. The petitions
complaintd of the existing system, in which
grievances certainly existed, for many Burghs lost
their estates centuries ago. The Lord Advocate
had brought in a B:11 for the removal of the
grievances which were admitted to exist at pre-
sent, to which much opposition and a cross fire
front the Gentlemen opposite had been made.—
Poll election of Magistrates seemed to him bad ;
but a poll election of Auditors seemed to him to
defeat the object of their election altogether, It
was petfectry easy to prevent the dilapidation
of the Royal Burghs without the motion of time
Noble Lord being granted. What was the ne-
cessity of recurring continually to the state of-the
Royal Burghs centuries back ? He maintained
that the antiquity of abuses was not a ground for
their continuation.—(Cheers from the Oroposi-
tion.)—Such was his opinion, and he would will-
ingly coincide in such a cheer ; but he also saw
no reason for changing the Constitution.—(Cheers
Irons the Ministerial Benches.)—Was the notion
of vox poputi vox Dei, to be carried so far as to
infer that the desire of the people was always cor-
rect ? All evils have been referred to this system ;
but was it not easy to point out a subject, and
-then say every misfortune arose from it ? However
much he thought the Bill of his Learned Friend
might remedy the evils, the chief motive w;,ich
caused him to oppose the present motion, was be-
cause it was intimately connected with the question
of Pat liamentary Retorm.—(Hear ! front time Op-
position.)—Would any one.say that thequestion was
not connected -with the question-of Parliamentary
Reform ? The -Hoe. Member for. the Burghs of
Inverkeithing boldly avowed his conviction of it,
and he honoured him for his open and honest
atetwal. The question of -Reform was the most
pleasing which could perhaps be proposed to the
consideration of Some other Members, who were
not so willing to avow their speeches. He called
upon the English Members, who wished to avoid
the dangers of anarchy ; he called upon the ene-
mies of. Parliamentary Reform; upon those who
wished to support the Constitution as it was, to op-
pose a motion which was to be attended with such
evils. The Gentlemen opposite might wish for
some change ; hot he preferred the Constitution
as it existed. These were the reasons. which in-
duced him to give his decided •pposition to the
motion.'

Mr. W. WYNN said, the great objections to the
motion arose from the dread of causing a viola-
tion of the Union ; but if this was the case, Pen-
ryn, Barnstaple, Salisbury, and all the English
Boroughs which had been altered since the Union
with, Scotland, constituted violations of the
Union ; for if it was Doc proper to alter Scotch
Burghs, neither was it proper to alter those of
England. lie always opposed the wild schemes
which had been offered to the House by visiona-
ries and enthusiasts, because they always began
with pulling down, without leaving any thing re-
maining. There was a competent Tribunal in the
House for a removal of any existing grievance,
and he hoped, when necessity required, it would
be put into execution. Were there not evils ex-
isting in the present system in Scotland ? None
could deny that the evils there required removal.
He was not desirous of having a Committee on
every-occasion ; but when admitted evils of great
►magnitude claimed attention, he thought that at-
tention ought to be paid to them, because such
was the desire of a people who sought relief, for
their grievance demanded it. The remedy pro-
posed by the Noble Lord was too cumbersome;
lie wished that the [louse would enquire whether
any means of remedy which could more speedily
be adopted could not be discovered. On these
grounds he would not oppose the motion of the
Noble Lord.

Mr. CANNING said, that he thought it due to

the interests of the country, the Burghs and re-
gulations of which were under the consideration
of the House, that the question should meet with
ample attention. As only one English Member
had spoken on the opposite side in favour of the
motion, he hoped he would be permitted to ex-
press his sentiments on the subject. At the ob-
servations of that Hon. Member, who would, be
trusted, not be- displeased if he called him his Hon.
Friend, he could not hilt feel surprise and asto-
nishment. The Act of Union, as hi! Hon. Friend
expressed it, prevented English Boroughs, as
well as Scotch, from being regulated as the

House thought proper ; but„ such was not the
case ; for the Act of Union, on the part of Scot-
land, stipulated, that the Itoyal Burghs should
always continue to enjoy their rights and pri-
vileges as before the Union. The Act of Union,
therefore, precluded' any alteration in the Scotch
without mentiOniug the no roughs of
England. There was a distinction which was
evident Ireiween the malversation of the Burghs,
and the mal-administration of the revenues.—
Though the House, by the Act of Union, was
preVented from interfering in the privileges of
the Scotch Burghs respecting elections, yet it
was not prohibited by the same Act from in-
vestigating and regulating the abuses connected
with revenues of the Burghs. For that pur-
pose the Lord Advocate of Soatland had brought
in a Bill to remedy the_ evils attendant on
the mai-administration, but which could not
interfere with the principles of election. The
House had, therefore, two choices : the first, a
Bill which was a remedy for the evils deserving to
be remedied, and the second, the acceptance of a
regulation which would be attended with a train
of evils. Would the House, therefore, hesitate
to declare which of the two modes it would adopt ?
Would it sanction a mo!ion which would be at-
ended with all the evils of the wild schenics of
Reform, which had been alteady proposed in
coarse, broad, gross, tyrannical, and insulting
shapes, but which, when touched in the House by
the spear of truth, &splayed fully the native
hideousness of the monster ? The [loose would
not, therefore, he hoped, hesitate in making its
selection, and would avoid plunging the empire
into dangers which would eventually produce the
greatest evils. _

Mr. FoilsEs was warm in his defence of the
Borough of Aberdeen, whose Magistrates did not
deserve the blame that was generaly attached to
their conduct. He believed that their means were
equal to any supposed deficiencies of funds. He
held in his hands a document which would prove
the truth of this allegation.—(Here the House was
uncommonly loud for the " Question 1 Question':
Question I")—The Hon. Member then said, "
confess 1 ant no orator ; but I insist upon my
right of being heard ; and, notwithstanding every
effort of opposition, I shall deliver my senti-
ments." 'I he Hon. Member then resumed the
same strain of argument or assertion in favour of
Aberdeen, and concluded by saying, that if they
committed hostilities against Aberdeen, they
might as well commit hostilities against Malt-nes-
bury.

Lord ARCH IBALD PANIILTON had proceeded
sentence or two in reply, when " The Question"
was so" loudly and generally called fn.r, that his
Lordship, from respect to the feelings of the House,
sat down abruptly. •
The Gallery was then cleared, when a division
ensued, and the numbers were—

For the Motion
Against it

hbijoi ity .

When Strangers returned to the Gdiery, the
loudest acclamations resounded from the Opposi-
tion side of the House.'

The CHANCELLIR of the EXCHEQUER moved
for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the Pay-
ment of Monies into the Exchequer, in the way
`of Debtor and CreArtir, from the Custoins and
Excise.—Ordered.