The Sun.
London, England, 1819-01-27 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JAN. 26.

The SPFAKER took the Chair as usual, at four
o'clock, after which -about twenty Alentbers took
the
Several Reports respecting Roads, and other private busi-
ness, were brought np, and leave given to bring in Bills for
the purpose of the Reports.
LIVERPOOL. SMALL DEBTS,
General GASCOYNE brought in the Report of the Com-
mittee respecting the Courts for Trial of Simi!) Debts in Li-
verpool, which is-as ordered to he recommitted.
SMYTH WAR K IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. CALVERT brought irl a Bill for the Paving and
.ether Improvement cf Southwark, and other contiguous
psi is of the County of Surrey.
GOLDSMITWS"FRADE.
Mr. FINLAY presented a Petition from the Goldsmiths of
Glasgow, complaining of the injuries arising to their trade,
from the want of an assay, and praying relief.
WINDSOR ESTABLISHMENT.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated, that in
the ahsence of the Noble Secretary for the Home Depart-
ment, whom indisposition prevented front attending, he had
to inform the House, that he would postpone his motion re-
specting the reduction of the Establislnoent at Windsor un-
til Thursday sennight, and also that the motion respecting
the Finance Committee would be postponed to Friday se'n-
night.
Mr. TIERNEY wished to obviate any difficulties which
might arise from the Right Hou. Gentleman's having pro-
posed to move an amendment to the motion of which fie,bad
given notice to the House. He was desirous of knowing whe.
ther it was the intention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to
persist in his amendment?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, not having
formed any determination on the subject, could not say what
course he should adopt.
Mr. TIERNEY said, that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would certainly act with due deliberation. He would, how-
ever, persist in his motion, and to prevent any mistake aris-
ing from a misconception, he would take the liberty of read-
itnpthe motion be intended to make, which was, that a Com-
mittee be appointed to inquire into the Bank Restriction, and
its effects on the exchange and currency of the country; and
also to inquire the reasons why recourse had not been hither-
tv had to cash payments.
BANK OF ENGLAND.

Mr. GaRNFRLL said, lie rose to move for the
production of certain Accounts similar to those
for which he had moved in the last Parliament,
relative to the affairs and conduct of the Bank of
England. it was hot his intention to touch upon
those parts of this great question with respect to
which notice had been given of motions by two
of his Honourable Friends. He did not wish to
precipitate the discussion of these subjects, which
would be brought forward with so much more
ability in a short time. One of these being of a
mixed and general nature, and the.otber with re-
ference to the frequency of capital punishment to:
forgery, were
,each of the highest impfirtance.—
There„were, however, a few points not necessarily
involved in the consideration of either, to which
he bad already often adverted, but his sentiments
on which he was anxious to repeat in a new Par-
liament. The statement of a few simple facts
might be perhaps sufficient for communicating to
new Members the views which he entertained On.
this subject. During the last 22 years-, the Cor-
poration of the Bank of England bad accumulated
enottuous wealth at the expense of the pals-
lie, without rendering any of those public services
that coulo entitle them so such advantages.
.The amount of this wealth exceeded all that had
exet been acquired before, since banking and
commerce were known to the world. It was de-
rived from two principal sources; the first of
which was the restriction of cash-payments, a
measure first adopted in the year 1797, and which
had ever since absolved the Bank from all their pe-
cuniary obligations. It moreover placed in the
hands of twenty-lour merchants, the tremendous
power of issuing an incontrovertible, and there-
tore a forced paper currency, for their own sole
and exclusive benefit. This currency cost the
Batik nothings hut the price of the paper, and the
expence of clerks employed in fabricating it. In-
deed there was one other expence which ought
not to he overlooked—he meant that of carrying
on the prosecutions against the numerous and
wretched victims of this system, with whom the
jails of the country were now crowded. The other
great source of the gains of this Corporation, and
one not less productive, was the exorbitant rates
exacted for the management of the public busi-
ness--exactions for the allowance of which no Ad-
ministration had more to answer for than that of
the present Chitncellor of the Exchequer. These
were assertions which he had repeatedly made in
the Last Parliament, awl which be would take
leave to apprize the present had been met by the
Bank, sometimes with evasion, sometimes in si-
lence, but never with disproof. They were
founded on documents which had been laid before
the house, and the authenticity of which could
not be controverted. lie should conclude by
moving for a variety of returns, and in the first
place for " an account of die to al weekly amount
of Bank-notes and Bank post bills in circulation,
front the Ist of January, 1818, to the 25th
January, 1819 ; distinguishing those under 51.,
and showing the aggregate amount for the entire
pet iod."
The CITANCELLott of the EXCHIMUER observ-
ed, that he had on a former evening intimated
that it was not hit intention to object to the pro=
duction of the accounts for which the Hon. Gen-
tleman was moving. The information which they
contained might be usefully laid before the House
as preparatory to the discussion which was to take
place. With regard to the Hon. Gentleman's
comments, and the justness of the inferences
which he drew, a better opportunity would soon
present itself for the consideration. of o.lem. An-
other important Paper—the Report of the Com-
missioners for inquiring into the means of pre-
venting Forgery of Bank Notes—had been al-
lead!, laid upon the table.

Mr. GRENFELL then moved for an Account of
the amount of Bank Notes in circulation on the
7111 and 12th days of each month, for the year
ISIS; distinguisiiing'and specifying them, as in the
preceding Return : also for the highest and lowest
dim:3llllu in circulation at any one time, specifying
the dates ; also of the amount on the Saturday
night of each Weelc; also of the market prices of
standard gold and silver in bars, and of the rates
of exchange with riamburgh, Lisbon, and Paris :
als,• of the balance of cash in the hands of the Bank
belonging thcihe different Public Departments, on
I).e. Ist and 15th of each month to the 15th Dec.
1816 ; also of the amount of unciaimed dividends
ano lot te'ry profits at the same perint.ls ; also of the
amonlitfol, Exchequer-1)01k received as cash ;
of the allowances made to the Bank by the
pailic for management; also of sovereigns and

half-sovereigns laud by. the Bank, np to the
latest period that it could be made out : and
lastly, of the total amount of gold and silver coin
issued from the ?Mint during the year 1818.
These returnt were all successively ordered to
be produced.

REVENUE.
Mr. MACDONALD gave notice, that he should on
Thursday next submit a motion relative to the
Collection of the Revenue.

GAME LAWS.
Mr. BRAND moved an Address, praying that
(bete be ill(' before the House a return of the
►umber of persons now committed tor offences
agaitist the Game Laws, distingnishina those in
custody under the Acts of the sth and 7th of his
present Majesty, and-specifying the sentences al-
ready-passed upon ►hose who were convicted.
After a few words from Mr. Becket, the n►o-
tion was agrecd to.