The Sun.
London, England, 1826-02-18 00:00:00

This was a situation in which it did not appear to him desirable

that the House should be placed.
Colonel FORDE would support the Amendment; the cir-
cumstances of a Magistrate having committed Franks upon the
accusation, and of the Grand Jury havins found a true bill, went
far towards the vindication of Mr. Kenn& froni the Imputation
of malice. The only charge then against Mr. Kenrick was, that
of having published a libel. No part of the- conduct now
charged against that Gentleman was committed by him either in
the character of a Magistrate or a Jildge, and in that respect
was eseeptially distinguished from the former inquiry. If the
House was iPmeeitted to this proeeedinak he lamented the cir-
cumstance, as he thought the precedent most dangerous.
- e Mr: •DENII AN expressed his surprise at the course the dee
bate had taken. The charges had been for some time upon
the table, and he did not, therefore, at this period expect to
experience this opposition. It was incorrect to consider the
chargeS as founded upon a private transaction. Mr. Kenrick
had rendered them public by appealing to the public admini-
stration of justice. Ile• would mainly rest his case upon the
Affidavits filed by that Gentleman himself, in the Court of
King's Bench, to support an application for a criminal infor-
metion .for libel. .11e was' astonished at the argument of iris
lion. Friend the Member for Peterborough, founded upon the
possibility of a jury differing in opinion front that House.—
The same argument might be urged in any case of criminality
brought under the consideration of that House: ' It was a duty
imposed upon that House by the Act of Settlement, to maintain
the purity of the judicial character. Was it to-be said that the
writing of a libel by a Judge was never to be made the subject
of inquiry in that House ? Was it no fit subject of Parlia-
mentary inquiry if a Judge, after attempting the destruction of'
' a poor man by a false and malicious accusation, and attempting
it in vain, should seek, by the most scandalous libel, to' blast
his character ? There were four facts alleged in this libel,
every one of which he would prove to be false. If they allowed
I such a man to remain a Judge, could they be said to keep the
seat of justice clean ? Those who would go thus far must be
prepared to say, that the most -open and •nOtoriousinfameeis no
disqualification for the seat of justice.
Mr. SCARLETT explained.
Mr. S. W'OItTLEY expressed his obligations to the 'llon.
Member for ileptford for awakening the atteneion of the
House to the dangerous position in which it street. • Igo Infe-
rence could be fairly drawn against Mr. Kenrick from the cir.
cumstance of his attempting to induce Franks to plead guilty
to the offence. Nothing was more common. In regard to the
charge of libel, God forbid that that House' should ever under-
take to be judges of private libels. They had quite enough to
do, and semetanes even more than they could do quite well, to
judge of the libels in which their own privileges were imme-
diately concerned.
Mr. AIIERCROMBY thought that a question had now
arisen, of greater importance than that which appeared at first
to be involved in the motion. The question now was one of
Emitting the powers and circumscribing the functions with
which the Act of Settlement had invested that House.' It ap-
peared to hint that whenever a Judge, by his own acts, exhi-
bited himself to the world as a man whom no Minister would
dare to appoint, the case arose in which that House might pro-
perly address the Throne for his removal. ' This charge ought
not to be separated front the proceedings of last year, for the
simple reason that the practical question for the House would
be as it had been correctly described by the Right Hon. Secre-
tary, a question ofilegree. •
Mr. Secretary CANNING said that in all questions ofajudi-
cial character every man would vote according to the deliberate
conviction of his own mind. lie wished to explain the motives
by which his own vote, which would be in favour of the motion,
wits produced. He could not forget the proceedings of last
Session. He could not forget that he lied concurred with his
Right Hon. Friend, in inducing the lion. and Learned Gentle-
man to egree to the postponement of the inquiry, without inti-
mating any intention of onnosing it when it should be brought
forward. rite Hon. and Learned Gentleman had agreed to-the
postponement for the convenience of public business, and hay-
mg accepted of this courtesy he did not now feel at liberty to
obstruct by his Cote the object of the Hon. and Learned Gen.
tleman.
Mr. DENISON had just seen. Mr. Kenrick in the lobby,
and had been desired to inform the House that lie was. quite.
prepared to meet the charges, but at the same time he had no.
other wish than for the House to proceed as it thought proper.
Ile would not sit down without expressing his entire concur-
rence with the opinion' of the lion. Member for Yorkshire, that
that House was not a fit tribunal to investigate a charge of pri-
vate libel.
Mr. WYNN would vote for the amendment. He could not
consider the present as the natural sequel to former proceedings.
They were distinct and separate, and it would be grossly unjust
towards Mr. Kenrick to consider them as blended together.
—The transaction on which this charge was brought was not
private it was true, but it was strictly an • individual transac-
tion. . It bed nothing to do with the judicial character of the
I person accused. A Judge is Its much liable as any other person
to legal proceedings if he publishes a libel or institutes a mali-
cious prosecution. .If convicted of such offences it might be the
duty of that House to take sonic steps upon the record or that
conviction. But to initiate proceedings in that House was a
precedent of a most dangerous tendency. It was a precedent
which might be applied to the case. of a Member of Parliament
'as well as to that oh a Judge. It opened a door to the greatest
mischief's. if this precedent were firinly established, at a time
when party ran high, a Minister of great power and popularity
might avail himself ofit to get rid of an unaccommodating Judge
or a troublesome Member of that House. There was, besides
this, great difficulty, that the removal of a Judge resulted an
Address front each House of Parliament. It was, 'Therefore,
necessary for the House to be. cautious in entertaining a charge
against a Judge. If they proceeded to address the. Throne,
and the House of Lords did not take a similar step, it would
result that a Judge would be left upon the Bench with a cha-
racter stained by their proceedings. Ile could not agree with
a Learned Gentleman in the opinion that any defects of cliarac-
ter which would disqualify from being appointed a Judge,
wouldjustify the removal ofa Judge. There wasa distinction
between the two cases unirersally.recognized in-regard to every
other Office.. • He had never understood the House to be pledged
' to the prosecution of the inquiry by any thing which took place
last Sesion.
When the Right Hon. Gentleman sat down there was a ge-
neral call for the question.
The House then divided—
For the Motion
Against it

411!1.1 orit y

,-39

•I •
On our return to the Gallery we found the House
mittee, Mr. R. Gordon in the Chair. - Counsel were then called
in, when Mr. Gurney and Mr. Bolland appeared at the Bor.
• Henry Peters, Esq. examined by 11r. DENstax.—The wit-
ness WAR a- Magistrate for the county of Surrey. He resided
at Blatchworth. That was near the residence of. Mr. Kenrick.
Recollected a daughter of Franks being charged with theft.
That was seven or eight years ago. Was not sure that the girl
had ever been brought beibre him. He granted the search,
warrant. No evidence had.been produced before him to affect
Franks or his wire with respect to the charge brought against
the daughter. They had never been charged with.abetting the
daughter in theft,
certainly not. He was the person who had
11[14 some sheep stolen. There had been a paper found near the
place which led to a suspicion against Franks. The suspicion
proved to be unfounded. Another man had been apprehended,
tried and convicted for the offence.- It was untrue that he had
had abundant proofs that Franks was the man who had stolen
his sheep. Haa lost other sheep, and no suspicion attached to
Franks. lied received a letter 'from Mr. Kenrick in August,
Thoughtthe hand-writing that of Mr. Kenrick. • The
letter was brought by Mr. Kenrick's man. The letter was as
follows :

"My Dear Sir-1 arrived here last night. I enclose you a
draft of nn affidavit which I hastily put together on the Circuit/
after I was made acquainted with the attack in. the liforning
Chronicle. I have'been advised to apply to parties who are ac-
quainted with the circumstances for their affidavits. I shall be
oblige if you will peruse pages two, three,, four, and five, anti
make a similar affidavit of the facts, as far as they fell under
your observation. I have some doubt about the propriety of
Making the affidavit with respect to the two sheep."—He re-
turned Mr. Kenrick an answer. It. was, that he ovoid not make
any affidavit, as he had no recollection of the circumstances ;
could by no means make an affidavit about the sheep, as there
was not the slightest proof, as no circumstance of suspicion had
existed except the piece of paper, and as the real culprit had
been tried.

Crois.examined by Mr. u nstEY—Never heard of any con.
stable. being employed in the business. Rhodes, the parish
constable at that tune, was since dead. Had never heard of a
bloody knife, as well as a piece of paper.
By Mr. DEN MAN—No sheep were killed on the first occasion.
By Mr. 0 untiEY—it was six or seven years ago.;
Mr. DE st A N—Had been many years a Magistrate, and
in the neighbourhood of Franks.. Frankshad never been before
him upon any charge.
Edward Arnold examined by Mr. DEN max —Vi7itness,re.
membered the charge against Franks's daughter. He bad been
the witness who went before Lord !taffies about the sheep.
There was no other circumstance against Franks,than the piece
of paper—no bloody knife. A person of the name of Bignell
had been tried before Lord Ellenborough, and found guilty of
stealing the sheep. Never heard of any circumstance to the
prejudice of Franks. Had lived in that neighbourhood since
1811. Knew nothing of Franks's character; since then had had
no dealings with Franks.
John Franks examined by Mr. DEN3)1A14..-41Ad lived some
years at Blatchwarth. His daughter had been taken upon. on
a charge of stealing some things at Mr. Kenrick's. The
missing articles had been found in a box belonging to the girl.
The girl was ten years old at that time. The artieleS stolen

were some little bits of silk. The box where they were found
stood beside the girl's hed ; she, slept in the same room with
witness and his wife. The articles were not concealed ; they
were in the box with her doll. The charge was dismissed..--
Witness did not recollect Mr. Peters saying any thing to him.
Ile had been in prison in the summer of 1824 for two months,
on a charge of stealing some pieces of wood. Had never given
liis'ivife any authority to intercede with Mr., Kenrick on his
behalf. Had never expressed gratitude to Mr: Kenrick, or• to
any of his"people, for his conduct on that occasion.
Mr. MINIMA N said, that this was all the evidence he in-
tended to Mir; and connecting this evidence Avidi
ments in the possession of the House, he was prepared to sub-
mit that the charge was fully matte out.
Mr. Secretary CANNING here interrupted, the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, by observing that it had been fully under-
stood, that the business of the Committee was to be limited to
hearing the evidence.
Mr. GORDON' then called upon the Counsel to state what
course they intended to pursue on the part of Mr. Kenrick.
Mr. GURNEY said he should beg leave. with permission "of
the House, to put in one or two documents ; and after that ad.
dress a very few observations upon the • evidence. He should
first address himself to that part of the charge relating to to the
application to the Chairman of the Sessions.
Mr. DENMA N rose to say, under correction of the Right
lion. Secretary that lie understood the course agreed upon to
be this—that the documents should be put in, and the question
decided before the House, without any resolution in the Com-
mittee. In that case his Learned Friend, Mr. Gurney, could,
not properly address them until after the evidence had been
printed and in the hands of Members, and the House were pre.
pared to come to some decision.
Mr. Secretary CAN NI NGsaid he wished the whole evidence;
taken before the Committee to be printed and reported to the
House before any resolution was come to.
Mr. GURNEY then called Mr. Charles John Lawson. Clerk
Of the Peace for the County of Surrey, who said that he was,
posiessed of the depositions taken before G. Burgess, Esti; a;
Magistrate, in the case of Franks.
Mr GURNEY put in the doCuments, and they were read by
the Clerks, together with the defence of John }ranks.
The witness upon further examination by. Counsel, stated that
he received a letter from Mr. Kenrick .previous to the time fixed
' for Franks' trial. The Teter was put in and read. It stated
the case of Franks, and said that Mr. Kenrick considered the
imprisonment already suffered by Franks as a sufficient punish-
ment for his offence. He had heard that the man had behaved
well in prison; that he had a large family, and that lie belonged
to a benefit club, by one of the rules of which he would forfeit
his claim if convicted of felony. The letter further stated, that
the imprisonment already suffered, would perhaps do as much.
Or more than further punishment, to effect the reformation of
the prisoner, and that lie (Mr. Kenrick) was unwilling to inflict
further distress upon his family. It then requested the opinion
and advice of Mr. Lawson as to whether, upon this statThement,
the Court would allow his recognizance to be done away. e
witness stated that he transmitted this letter to Lord Michlihe
ctont
the Chairman of the Sessions, and received an answer in t
negative.
After some conversation, it was agreed that Mr. Gurney
should be heard before the House after the printing of' the
dence, and the reprin'ing ofsuch of those}documents laid on the
table last year as bore upon it.
The House having resumed.
Mr. GORDON brought up the report containin the inures
of evidence, which was ordered to be printed, an d taken into
consideration on Tuesday next. .

o

"

SUPPLY.
Sir G. CLERK moved the Order of the Day for the Heiti
resolving itself into a Committee of Supply, and that the NavY
Estimates by referred to the same Committee.
Upon the motion that the SPEAKER do leave the Chair,
Mr. HUAIE rose and said, he thought the House were Pra
eeeding too rapidly. to vote the Estimates of the year, hecauser
they possessed no information as to what were the intentions 0
Government, who appeared to be increasing the expenditure.
instead of lesseningit. The Hon. Member then referred I'7
the Report of the Finance Committee of 1816, and stated tile,
annual amount of Expenditure from that period down to
shewing that their recommendation had not been fulfilled.
the Ministers would relieve the distresses of the country, they
must begin by lessening the expenditure; on that ground he e,
called upon the !loose to say, that they were not in a colitliti°
to go into a Committee of Supply, until the Chancellor of t
Exchequer made his, statement of what would be the amount
of the revenue, and what reduction of taxes he intended to
propose. They ought to pause before they called upon the
people to pay the same amount of taxes now that they were
about to return to a metallic currency, as they had paid
in paper. The Houie would have observed that there wits
increase instead of a diminution in the Estimates of the Nirrl
he
an
for the present year. There was an increase of men to the num'
ber of 1,000. Lest year the number of seamen employed wit!
29,000. In 1817 there were only 19,000; and therefore in ad-
dition to all increase of 10,000, it was now proposed to add one
thousand more. Last year there was a great nil/titian .1.-i";
army ; and if such establishments were to be kept up, is Is-
hopelesei to look for a change in the condition of the countrY,
or, to expect that its finances could recover from their enibitr•
raasments. He then contended that our naval eetablislirilebnati
ought to. be proportieneta to those of other states; yet t"-i
all the Maritime Powers in the world did not possess a n0,3,-
force of one'half the extent of ours. The United States, Whiciti
Watt considered of the greatest importance in this respect. B,l't
whose augmentation of her naval force wan sometimes urger
a ground for keeping up ours, possessed only 26 vessel* oft
while we bad 500. They ought therefore to have the flue'
r the
information as to the means and the general expenditure 0
country before they voted one pound or one man for the riciTrle`.
He concluded by moving as an amendment—" That it
sirable, before the House proCeeds to vote any part ofthe Na
and Military Establishments of the year, the extent of t 7
Estimates for the whole expenditure be laid before the ii°l6;e's
particularly as the Naval Estimates exceeded those of
year."
prelientled that the only mode of ascertaining
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER sat " 111).
crease in the Estimates ought to he voted or not, was thatoigi
ing into the Ceminittee of Supply, in which his
That hail
would have to explain every item they contained. That Itatiu,ce
the usual course, and the House had never been in the Or
of having the general amount of the expenditure before ripen
or
previous to voting the Estintatee, until within the last threete.
four years, when he had thought fit to make a general
~•;; as
sent of the finances of the country as early
.in the Sesat"- se
possible. But it had been the regular Practice of the HO.
not to wait for any general statement before going into a coo'
deration of the necessary supplies of the year.
Col. DAVIES said. diet although be' gave Ministers er rte
for their general measures, yet he did not think they raid esitjea
ticient attention to the rigid economy imperatively tienifeee
whether th!
by the distresses of the country, which nothing will"
and a
but a very considerable reduction of our establishment'''.
consequent reduction of taxes.
dv that
" Mr. BRIG HT took thalsopportunity of saying shor-e-',, the
the measures of the Government were not adequate to ili-wias
state of the country, and of protesting against the eolith)" into
which they seemed to regard it. If he did not go at length
thatl
the subject, it was not because lie was unprepared to she/ or
the duty of the Government was to adopt further measures r
real relief. He supported the amendment. r the
Mr. C. HUTCHINSON understood the propoon 0.
Hon.,Alember for Aberdeen to be, that the Government old
be called upon to chew the House what the resources and crirto*er
bilities of the country were, and to what extent they mean
,
carry our establishments, before it voted so large a sum fig 0
depertment.
Air. II u ME explained. ll l
tfted, received, and established forms or Parliament, for haa,
Mr. Secretary CANNING considered it to be against a ilea
o
Hone Member to insist upon a deviation from the course. wh'ere
for ages past had Geen pursued. He thought he could stiY t the
never had, upon any occasion, been any deviation froueer
coarse pursued by his lion. Friend that night—that there the
had before been any objection made-to the Speaker leavir4;•ol;e
Chair—that there never had been'such a request as that, fled
the Speaker's leaving the Chair, the estimate should be °P%oo
to the House. They went into a Committee for the est)ow,
purpose ot hav'ef the details of the eStimates explaineti woeitl
because these 'esemates might be asked and given,
be against the rules of the House, while the Speaker rearward,
in the Chair. But the Hon. Member for Bristol came t.°
hould
and warmly maintaiued that the practice of Parliament svohi,
new be deoarted from—net for the fisrt time since the itvere 0
tion, but since the existence. of Parliament. And theYwetred•
do this, because he had a speech within him, whice. if Pr°' eiog)
he would deliver.—(A laugh.)—Why, if he (Mr. CO harp
might have his choice, he declared to God lie would rather were
the speech while the Speaker was in the chair than after thgetecer
in Coininittee.—(Laughter.)-:-He thought no ground i',l_"_"weie•
had been advanCed, upon which such a departure from tlheghe
flared practice of the House could be entertained. 1110
re-
that the present situation of the country was onewd Arno"_"
quired them to treat' with the greatest delicacy—he ha the Al
aaid, With bee
ndefene—the feelings of • the. people: 10 400
not ;limit it to
give up the usual course of considerin the supplies for posite
Casson' defence of the country.. The lion. Gentleman ttPosible
bad made his objections in a spirit from arlY "Preis 'l°4°
warmth or violence ; • but he knew 'that out of door ef en
against the Supplies was considered one of the last resorra"teet
angry and determined opposition. He therefore lit'inhet Pt
the Honourable Alernbeir would not press his motion, we
Into the Committee and there have any explanations ,
wi
Ash for. nif
111EetnEtt Said., that the Estimates ought to be

f
1

with reference to the alteration in prices which must result from
the change in the currency.
Mr. F. PALMER said, that in voting for the amendment, he
disclaimed giVing an angry vote.
Mr. Secretary CANNING begged it to be understood that;
he did not say the vote would be an angry one—for he admit.
mined the temper of the Hon. Member's speech—but that it
would be so considered out of doors.
Mr. HUME said if that could possibly be the effect of his
opposition he withdrew it.....(Hear, hear!)—The House then
went into Committee.

NAVY STIMATS
Sir G. CLERK said, that E
it now becamEe. his duty to explain
Why the present Estimate exceeded that of last year; and he
thought he should be able to satisfy the Committee that it had
been
framed upon st principle of strict economy. The lion.
.letriber fur Aberdeen bad now, as upon many other occa-
sions, referred to the report of the Finance Committee of 1817,
and to the Navy Estimates of that year. He had not the
%lightest hesitation in saying, that the number of seamen em-
ployed in that year would be wholly inadequate for the neces-
sary wants of the country 'at present. Owing to the great in-
crease of our commercial intercourse with the States of South
Anletvica,.the Calls upon the Admiralty for an increased force
for the protection of commerce on those stations were such
It with the force we now had they were unable to meet.—
he House would reccllect that there were no points of the
u
'"tinent of South Anterica at which vessels were not now
trading from this country, some states of which, it should be
also recollected, were in such an unsettled condition, that it
was absolutely necessary to have a force kept up for the pro-
tection of mercantile' property. This increase of commercial
intercourse with South America had led every other Maritime
Power to augment its naval force in those quarters. For the
same reason it was necessary to keep up a considerable force in
the Mediterranean, on account of the war between the Greeks
and the Turks. It was also necessary.to have a great force
About the Spanish West Indian Colonies, to keep down that
piratical Spirit which so much interrupted our commerce a short
!tinge ago, and which,' if our forces were reduced, was ready
Hain to recommence that horrible system of depredations.
the
was also a considerable force required for putting down
la_e traffic in slaves, in furtherance of the decision of that House.
.n the Committee considered all these calls upon the
Naval Service, he thought-they would not think the proposed
establishments too great to answer them.. He had to propose
for the present yeArean Increase. of 1000 men, who were to be
employed in assisting the Lest India Company in the prosecu-
tion of the Burmese war. An 'arrangement had accordingly
been entered into, by which the East India Company were to
"Pay to the public the sum of '60,000/. being the additional
expence of these men. The Estimate of this year would shew an
excess over the last of 1110,000/. The causes of this encrease
were, first, this addition of 1,000 men, and then the expense of
victualling the Navy, which; from the rise in prices would be
increased since last year from sixteen to twenty per cent. ere-
ating an additional expellee of 100,000/. Upon the expences of.
the general Civil Establishments of the Navy there was no in.
crease, and in some would be found a considerable diminution.
Had it not been for the additional nenther of men, and the in.
creased, price of prpvisions, there would indeed have been no ad-
vance upon the estimate of last year. There was a difference
in making out the present estimate from all preceding ones.—
The wear and tear of the navy had usually been charged at so
Much per man. But the Honourable Members for Aberdeen
and Ablution had pointed out the aukwardness of this mode
last year, and it had now been thought much better to
make the estimate by the quantity of timber and other ma-1
terials used in the wear and tear of ships. Upon this and
the Navy Ordnance there appeared a diminution of 320,000/. ;
but there was, upon the aggregate of these two heads, a sav-
ing of 30,0001. The charge for ordnance had been transferred
to the ordnance estimates, and the Honourable Member must
expect to find a correspondent increase in thatdeparnnent when
it came before them. There was one item, for the charge of
ships building l e 'Bombay, which he would explain. It had
been found OA the quality of the ships built there was so ad-
mirable, and the materials and workmanship being found
neither deficient nor more expensive, it had been determined
to continue the practice. In the extra estimate there was ano-
ther sum which required explanation. It had been stated last
Fear that the Contractors for the works at Sheerness, if al-1
owed to proceed with their completion at a quicker rate, so
as to have them finished in four years instead of ten, would.
abate 14 per cent. upon the contract, which would reducei it
from 921,0001. m 730;000/. This proposal, so beneficial to the
public, had been closed with, and in consequence they should
i!ave to call upon the House instead of the usual sum of 50,000/.
tor 150,0001. There would also also be an additional sum to'
be •
vote( for the Break Water. It was now found advisable'
to employ a greatee number of men upon the works. This en-
crease, together with the others he had mentioned, would make
t1!0 apparently large excess over the Estritate of last year of
?21,000/. But the real additional expence reduced itself to
°O,OOO/. The great causes of this increase were, the
.addi-
tional 1,000 Men, the ,increased price of victualling for the
Navy, and the providing 'thr the more rapid progress of the
!corks at Sheerness. The Gallant Officer, concluded by mov-
ing a resolution for granting 30,000 Men to be, employed in the
Sea Service, for the yeeir including 9,t)00 Royal Martnes.
bar: HUME contended that no case had been made out to
Justify the keeping up so large an establishment us ours. The
state of the world was much that the British fieg would be as
much respected at the must-head of a frigate, as at that of a
man of war. The [lon. Member again referred to the Finance
Report of 1817, and the establishments of 1792. lie com-
plained of the system of officering the Navy, and of the manner
in which the pension list had been augmented since the end of
the war. The lion. Gentleman, after ,offering some further
objections, said, that he would not move for a reduction of the
number of men, though he conceived he had made a statement
which would warrant such a proceeding.
Sir G. CLERK replied. The reduction which took place in
1822, rendered it necessary to provide for those who had claims
upon the service. As to the.Widows' Pensions, they were
assisted during the war by the officers on full pay, but since
the hurthen was unavoidably thrown upon the public. The
'acne fugue be said as to the out-pensioners of Greenwich Hos-
pital. As to the difference of promotion between the Marines'
and the Officers of the Navy, 'the former received their commis-
lslons without any claims, the latter as a reward for merit, and
the devotion of their lives to the service from their youth to a
Period when they could not acquire any other profession. The
clerks who entered their office in 1817, had by 'stipulation a
Progressive increase of 101. per annum to their salaries since,
ant i thus another part of the Hon. Gentleman's objection was
°Pciated. The expences undertaken at Sheerness were de
signed to save the necessity of incurring a greater expence.
_ The first Resolution was then put and carried ; as were also
all the others, some of which were the subjects of occasional
discussions, in which Messrs. II OSKISSON, CIIOKE It, nUAIE,
11. 1. Corr 's:, and several other Members bore a part.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in the course
of conversation, expressed himself favourably disposed to the
Plan of relieving the Half-pay of Navy Officers from a small
tax imposed upon it for leave of absence.
The Resolutions were ordered to be reported to the House,
and the House resumed.

PROMISSORY NOTES BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
second reading of the Promissory Notes. Bill. lie adverted to
fyroposition which had been made by the lion. 111 ember for
piewton—that one pound notes of the Bank of England should
be established as a permanent part of the currency. Such a
measure in its full extent he would regard as an act of injastice
to the Country Bankers; but it had been suggested to him that
with some limitation of the proposition it might be made sub.
fervient to the success of the measure no's before the Douse. The
limitation which he would propose, and which he intended
to introduce as an amendment, was that instead of confining
the issue of one Pound by the Bank of England in common with
country banks, to the date of the sth of February, the flank
should be permitted to issue new notes till the 10th October
next. The object of the modification was to afford a facility
to country bankers for the gradual withdrawal of their notes.
He did not however mean that any national one pound notes
should be current longer than the stated period of three years.
Alt. ELLICE had voted for the Bill; but without con.
'Wing in the firmness of Government to carry it through, and
maintain its principle. Whit object could be gained by this
departure from a principle which had produced the most bene.
"cud results. The suppression of one pound notes had saved
numbers from Tyburn ; and after their withdrawal, why re-pro.
tge their introduction. He could scarcely believe his ears._
o, measure was less defensible than a resort to the system of
'sluing small notes, and unless there were circumstances of the
greatest necessity to justify it, the Bank Directors ought to be
7r4ined for their conduct. Though he were to stand alone
;ft opposition, he would divide the House upon the
Amen rn era-
. Mr. BRIGHT thought that the Amendment did not go
the enough, and that they would be justified in calling on
'4le. Chancellor of the Exchequer for its extension, as ne.
(twisty to the country.. It, proved. that the minority were
tight in their opposition to the Bill."Kb The country could not
°tar its operation, and it wait not yet too late to arrest the evil,
nit LO suit the circulation to the circumstances of the king.
loin. Nothing but the issue of. Excheq9er Bills could relieve
the tweet:sides of merchantss,. whom a was their duty to
"IP. The -Bank had. laid out money on Exchequer Bills,
t how did that serve commercial interests ? The distresses of
79k were quite analogous to the present, as would be seen by
reference to the history of that period. Those distresses were
completely removed by Mr. Pat's issue of Exchequer Bills,
which not only achieved their main object, but were profitable
t° tie TreasurY. no therefore called on the country at this
,trying
take iefoge in the Wisdom of Mr. Pitt.
Mr. 4u.'4§lSON argued against the inconsistency of re.