The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-01 00:00:00

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TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1821

RU Y, E NT,

I HOUSE OF COMMONS, Aram ML
The House met this day, pursuant to Adjourn-
ment, and a sufficient number of Members being-
assembled, the SPEAKER took the Chair at ten
minutes before four o'clock.
The Marquess of LONDONDERRY took the Oaths at the
table as member for the Borough of Orford. '
Sir J. GRAHAM moved for a new Writ for a Member to
serve in Parliament; for the Borough of Ludgershall, i 7 the
room of the Earl of Carharnpton' deceased.-.—Ordered..
Mr. P. MOORE presented a Petition from the operative Gun
and Pistol-makers of Birmingham, complaining of grievances,
and praying that his Majesty's present Ministers might be im-
peached.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. B. 'WILBRAHAM moved for a new Writ for a Cone-
missioner to serve- in Parliament for the county of Stirling, in
the room of Sir C. Edmondstone, deceased—Ordered:
Sir W. LEMON presented a Petition fromthe Freeholders,
Traders, and Inhabitants, of the County of Cornwall, praying
that the County Courts Bill might pass into a law.—Ordered to
lie on the table. .
Mr. BALFOUR, presented a Petition '4*frona certain-Land-
holders in the county of Orkney, praying for the repeal of the
last Scotch Malt Duties—Ordered to lie on- the table, and to
be printed.
On the motion of Mr. R. SMITH leave of absence was
granted to Mr. Canning for six weeks, on the ground of urgent
.private business.
Mr. HARBORD postponed the second reading of the Assize
of. Bread Bill till Monday.
Mr. DENISON presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of the town of Godalming, praying for a Revision of the Penal
Code.—Ordqed to lie on the table, and to be printed.
STEAI ENGINES BILL.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR moved the Order of the Day for the
second reading of the Steam Engines Bill.
Mr. D. GILBERT expressed his intention of opposing the
Bill in the Committee, as far as it applied to Mining Property
in Cornwall.
Mr. Alderman WOOD observed, that it would be utterly
impossible for large Proprietors in Cornwall so to alter their
Engines as to meet the provisions of this Bill, and they would
consequently be exposed to vexatious prosecutions.
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR maintained, that the necessary alter-
ations might be made in Furnaces of all dimensions at a very
small expense. It was his intention to propose a Clause, giving
four or five months to enable all persons to place their Fur-
naces in such a state as was required by the provisions of the
Bill.

After a few words from Sir W. LEMON, the Bill was read
a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
On the motion of Mr. C. GRANT, the Courts of Justice in
Ireland Bill was read a third time and passed.
AUDI TS ACCOUNTS.
Mr. LUSIIINGTON moved the Order of the Day
for taking into consideration the Audits Ac-
counts Bill.
Mr. G. BENNET objected to going into the
discussion of this subject in the absence of all in-
formation. What evidence had been laid before
the House was in a garbled state, and a great
portion of the evidence which had been given be-
fore the Committee had been suppressed alto-
gether. Not only was the evidence supported in
the Minutes which had been returned to the
House, but the House would be surprised to
learn that it was done, nobody knew where. He
(Mr. B.) had examined the papers in the posSes-
sion of the Clerk, and, with the exception of Mr.
Halkett's evidence, no part of the evidence which
had been given before the Committee remained.
Not one word appeared of the squabbles between
Mr. Serjeant Praed, and Mr. Ainslie; but one
important circumstance was stated in the printed
documents. It was stated, that the Audit Board
had received considerable obstruction from public
Officers,, and Mr. Praed produced a paper con-
nected with this- subject, which paper was sup-
pressed. He (Mr. Bennet) regarded this cir-
eumStance with surprise and suspicion. It was
at-any rate a great irreg4larity to take papers in
this unauthorized
.manner, out of the hands of
the clerk, and he slionld certainly move for their
production.
Mr. LUSHINGTON said, be had moved the
Order of the Day only for the purpose of post-
poning- it, in consequence of a communication
whicfi had been made by the Honourable Gen-
tleman opliosite to the Chancellor of the Ex-
eheqper. * It was quite immaterial to him to what
day of the next week it was postponed, and as far
as lie.was concerned, he was perfectly ready to
agree, to tl►e production of all the. Papers for
iihich the Honourable Gentleman may think pro
per to Move.

I.3.A.NtiEs denied that it was a duty incum•
bent upon Committees to return to the House all

e eVidence taken before them; and Observed,
hat :in withholding a part of the evidence on the
present occasion, they had been influenced solely
a desire of not laying an ex-parte Statement
before the House.
Mr. D. GiLBERT said, that though he could
not blame the Honourable Gentleman for the
jealousy with which' he 'regarded a suppression
of part of the evidence, yet that jealousy was
,wholly misapplied .on the present occasion. It
had been withheld With no' view of favouring any
Member of the Administration, as he seemed' to
suppose, but merely because" the Committee
found that it would be impossible to enter fully
intiythe subject at so advanced a period of the
Session, and they were unwilling, therefore, to
bring forward an ex-parte statement, without
hearing ,the other side. With respect to the'cir-
Curnstanee of a part of the evidence not being in
the •p6SSession of the Clerk, he knew that
,soars
papers' had been transmitted to -Sir T. Baring-,
who had formerly taken an active part in this
Committee, and' who had again uttered theM his
Services, but he was Unable to say whether or not
they continued in his possession.
Mr. HumE hoped the Honourable Gentleman
opposite would see the propriety of postpon;•
ing the further consideration of this Bill until the
Committee were able to complete their inquiries.
BANKES said, that when 'the present mode
of conducting the accounts was considered, it was
riot so surprising that the progress made was 'slow,
as that any progress was-mede -at all. He— might
yenture to say, that great improvements would
be proposed by the Committee,
,but they could
scarcely •
scarcely be brought forward-iu the present Session.
Sir H. PA RN cLi, wished to know why the pro-
visions of the present Bill had not been extend-