The Sun.
London, England, 1819-12-21 00:00:00

.eel an entirely crw principit Into The law 'of --.Ettg-
oid i bin this he deined It was not the fact,
tiott to recrire Teciit2:nizances previous to the
eiimitiksiod of aiiy dfielice was contrary to the
principles of English law. On the contrary, not
to mention the cases for the protection of the re-
venue, there were many others in which securities
were required. No person, for instance, could
have a boat or, cotter of a certain description
without giving secittity that it should not be used
in smiigglittg. liv ao Arq of Eda•ard VI. too, and
confirmed by the Act of Goner 11. all publicans
taking wit a liecose u-r, re obliged at the same time
5.., enter in7o a reci...-,,nizatice wnli securities, not
for the safety of the tevenoe, bnt for the keeping
of good order and the prevention at offences
This was exactly analogous in principle to the
present case, and it wood( not be contended
that they were not here legislating against a more
piessinv danger than any that mould ari-e from a
d'SONtedy 610 in-house. The mischief they
were riving to privet C was not to restiain that
sort of mdtter which. all would ti WI to see pith.
but the blaspheinons !Picts which every one
was anxious •to eve pin clop n. As for a r,eoe-
nizance from the person hirwrelf it woi lii be quite
11,04atoty, and lie could not conceive how it could
lie drought too [Ouch to ts.k from those upon
•tvLoiri the public, must depend so ruatii, tit pro-
duce t Wri friends to answer for the M.

Mr. MacDoNALD said a few words in explatia-

nun.

Mr. J S'4YTH said, this !MI would render a
play-bill liable to a fourpenuy stamp, nod eve:,
tl olay•titket. other pApers, ‘vizliotit
trade (0111.1 i!ot be coil-led <ln oue.day, one
hour, tvould Also be pobibited by its opera! ii.n.
Mr. WAITIIMAN AgAiu objected to the measure.

Mr. ATRyNs WRIGHT said something in a low
tone, which we alierwards ascertained, from
Lot d Castlereagh's answer, to allude to the pro-
hihitt d operation of the Bill upon the Oxford
publications.
Lord Css-reetteaox replied, that if the objec-
tion went to the second branch of the Bill, it
could not he difficult to find recognizances in
this ca,;e ; it tit the firNt, the easy remedy was
in the hands of the patties, and it wits not too
much to ask of them to confolm so touch to the
law as to make their publications monthly, or it
weekly, of higher price than sixpence. Nor was
jr too much generally to ask the moral part of the
booksellers end printers, than whom none had ex-
pressed in stronger terms their opinion of the ne-
cessity for checking the. mischievous portion of
the press, to contottn so much as to suffer the
meAure to apply to the supvression of these blas-
phemous libels. Government had been anxious
to steer a•midOle course, and no doubt, even after
this Act pa-sed, improper works mieht be pub-
lished monthly, subject to no intpedinn but
what the old laws imposed. They h,idtrictl prac-
tically to combat the bad and leave the good as
unfettered as possible. It was not their wish to
is:pede any legitimate operation of the press. On
these grounds he hoped the house would not re-
lax, bio. enable Ministers to catty through these
very necessary meastnes.
Mr. MARRYATT repeated his objections, and
noticed the stopprte of a Shipping List in Ire-
land by a former tax, and the present would have
the same effect on all similar papers in this coun-
try. He had expected ft out mite Hon. and Learned
Gentleman some exceptions in favour of these
productions.
Tie SoLICITMI•GE RAL Said, they would be
introduced. Hi also contended that the principle
sectoities previous to off-rice %vas common
in English law. It was the general principle
from the time of Alfred, was recognized in
Magna Charta, and had only been limited and
modified as circumstances required, Where they
were necessary they were still continued, and
never did the morals and peace of the country
rt quire it more than in the present instance, when
it was to stop the tot rent of sedition and bias.
phetny. Was it right to demand a moderate se-
curity frotn those who boasted, that by the Press
they w'ould oveithrow the Religion, Laws, and
Constitution of the Country ?

Sit' W. DE CHESPIGNY Said, if the Noble Lord
C3rIIC to an untimely end, this Bill would prevent
the publica,ion of his last dying speech and con-
fession—(A murmur.)
Mr. WILSON was in favour of lowering the
amount of the securities.
The Committee then divided--
Ayt, 202
Noes B4
Majority ----120

The clause was agreed to. On the clause for
itn.pwitig h penalty of 2W. for selling without
eart.ri»g into a reet.gnizance. some discussion but
no division took place. On the clause demanding
second recogoiz:ince and security horn persons
charged with iihel being read, Mr. DRISMAN, Mr.
Mir,, and Lord A. I-lAMILTyN opposed it. The
'latter MOTrii 10 leave out the INOI'd 01411Ci011f,id,
was negatived. The ATTOHNP.Y-GENBRAL
eplied to ihe other objections, mid the Hulse
divided•on the Clause—

Ayes 149
Noe? 9
Majority —l9o
Further debate on the wording of the clause,
entitling informers to prosecute in the name of
the Attorney General also took place, but led to
no result.

The AITORNBY•thiNERAL then introduced
clause, allowing persons becoming sureties to
withdtaw their recognizances, on giving twenty
days' notice.
It further enacts, that if any Printer or Pub-
lisher shall print any paper without entering into
new securities, be shall be liable to a penalty of
twenty pounds.
The s.id clause was added to the Bill.

The ATTORNEY-6F NERAL introduced a second
clause, to exempt particular wu►rks Iron► the ope-
ration of the BM. Nothing in the Act is to ex-
tend to printed Parliamentary Papers, Acts of
State, Books Hat(' in Schools, Books of Piety,
Charity, ‘Veekly Accounts, the State of
Markets, Ship Papers, the Sailing and Arrival of
',Merchant Vessels, and other Publications of a
similar descliption.
The clause was read a first and second time.
Lord CASTLEREAGH proposed the Report be
received this day, and observed,
_float opportunity
might be allowed to consider the articles enuase-