The Sun.
London, England, 1819-04-27 00:00:00

SCOTS BURGHS.

The LORD ADVOCATE moved the postponement
of the second reading of the Royal Burghs Ac-
counts Bill until Thursday.
Mr. J. I'. URANT hoped the Learned Lord would
postpone it to a later period. Many petitions bad
last Parliathent been presented against a similar
Bill. This, lie suspected, was not more a favourite
than the former. He should therefore suggest an
additional delay of 10 or 12 days.
The LORD ADVOCATE said, he bad already
withdrawn -the Bill of last Session, in compliance
with an application similar to the present, in
hopes all objections would be obviated by the ge-
neral meeting of the Royal Burghs in Scotland
during the month of July. He thought enough
of time had already been granted. A motion was
now pending for referring all petitions of this na-
flue to a Committee. If, however, the Bill
passed, the gravamen of these complaints would
be removed, a consequence which- the Gentlemen
opposite were anxious to prevent, lest the great
question of Parliamentary Reform should lose
some of its interest in the public eye.
Lord A. HAMILTON contended, the great griev-
ance complained of as existing in these Burghs
was, their self-election. The Petitioners were,
besides, not,satitified with this Bill, which they

considered wholly ineffectual. He telieved the
Bill would meet with general reprobation.
Mr.Parmuosg said, he bad had communications
front the Magistrates of Stirling, who stated the
funds of that Burgh to have been particularly
well administered, which, he believed, bad arisen
front the appointment in this Burgh of an auditor
of account a, under the controul of those interest-
ed in the expe'mliture. 1-le recommended the
adoption of this principle generally, and mimed,
as an i-vmendinent; that rite Bill should be read a
second time this day fortnight.
Mr. fIUME seconded the motion, and hoped the
Noble 'Lord would not precipitate the Bill.
Mr. kV. DOUGLAS regretted the dilapidation
and waste of public money in these Burghs. It
Was a subject of great interest to Parliament,
and he hoped the time requested by the preced•
ing speakers would be granted by the-Learned
Lord, whose conduct had already been any thing
but satisfactory in respect to •the proposed ar-
rangements in the Royal Burghs.
The Lottn ADVOCATE explained.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH hoped the House would
prefer bearing from Scotland what the public opi-
nion was by their petitions, to giving the Learned
Lord an opportunity of dictating to them, by his
speeches in that House, what might be most
agreeable to the ears of his Majesty's Ministers to
bear from them in the shape of petitions. Be
should vote for giving them therefore time to
make known their genuine sentiments.
Lord CASTLEREAGH should much regret any
precipitancy in a case of this nature, and front
all he had been able to collect on the subject, be
was of opinion the discussion of the subject
might be very properly postponed until the period
required.
Mr. FORBES supported the postponement.
Mr. FINLAY contended, the Bill of last Session
and the present -differed- mat f.rially, the former
was useless as nugatory, this must have the best
possible tendency.
The AmeAment was then carried for its being
postponed ontii Monday after next.
Go the inntion of Lord CASTLEREAGH, the other
Orders of the Day were then ordered •to be read.