The Sun.
London, England, 1817-03-21 00:00:00

GOVFANOIt OF

Mr. Goy LBUUN presented certain. Proclamations
of the Governor of Trinidad, and moved that
they do Jie on the table. lie ebserved, that he
most take -this opportunity of contradictiog an
obsetvation that he understood had been made on
a preceding evening,,which was, tlittt British hos-
pitttlity had been sold at that colony. So far front
this being the case, it was the invarilhft role of
the Governor not to take any tee what vvt!r front

persons who touched tl►ere, and he must, ti►ere
fore, give the observation an unqualified eon ra
diet i►►n.

Mr. BP.NNETT bad too high An opinion of the
character of the Governor to believe suelvan as-
sertion from any because he did not
believe kiln capable of such conduct. 'But tire
remark of his lion. Friend, if he understood hint
tight, was made upon the conduct of the Assessor
of the Island, who was a person totally unfit to
remain there, or to hold any.publie appointment
whatever.
111 r. GOULBUB'S explained.

SCOTS UN' VERSIIIES.

Lord A. HAMILTON moved, that the Papers or-
dered on the 17th February, relative, to the Draw-
h,►ck On Paper, allowed to the Scotch Universi-
ties be printed. In answer to a gnestion born the
Noble Lord, which we could not hear,
Thu CHANCELLOR ►►t the li4,;scnalautta said, that
it' bad been found impossible to comply with the
terms tit the Act; and be would much sooner agree
to the te►tal abolition of it, than allow the Univer-
sities to remain under the operation of the law as
it now stood. fie explained. why the litll was
tumid inapplicable to the purposes intended.
The I'aper4 were'ordered to be printed.
Lord COCHRANE rose to made his promised
mottlit,. for Accounts of all Fines paid into the
Crown (Mee, and the mode of their appropria-
tion. This motion not being seconded, it fell
to the, ground.
SaAw obtained leave to bring in a Bill,
to regulate the Office of (longer :of the City of
London. •

Lord CocuKANE asked for information respee
moory kit by the Will of a Mr.Trougl

on, fur (Imitable purposes, but wisieli hail Inn.

escl►eated to the Crown.
The CHANCKLI.OIt of the FACIIEQUErt Said, he
believed it was well known, that under the autho-
rity of the Crown, tile property in question had
been applied in aid.of the Civil List.
EXCH4QUER
nit the motion of the CntiNcet.t.on of the Ex-
.
CIiEQUER for the third reading of the Exchequer

Bills Bill,
Mr. BARNETT .said, be could of refrain front
submitting to the Hight Hon. Gentleman the pro:
priety of taking some steps, without delay, for
lowering the Unfunded Debt, which already
amounted to more than 50 millions. Nothing
could be more adapted to the future welfare of the
Country, and the,interest of the Right Hon. Geo-
ilentan's successors, unless he thought that he
held his situation in perpetuity._ The Bank 01
England was the only establishment that had not
been at all reduced by the Peace, and- they found
it their interest to give every EllCOUrAgement to
the issue of Exchequer Bills, which must nhimate-
ly prove detrimental to the real interests of the
country.
'I he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed,
if the Hon. Gentleman would take the trouble to
refer to the accounts before the House, he would
see that the amount of 'Exchequer Bills outstand-
ing was considerably less than it was two years
ago, and aISO.MHCII less than last year, with the
exception of the six millions voted to cover those
Outstanding at' a particular period-. Ministers
were now forming a diminution of interest on
these Bills, which could not be otherwise than
highly advautageous to the country. He fully
agreed with the Hon. 'Gentleman, that the. conti;
nued issue of Exchequer Bills was not advisable ;
but the measure was only intended to be tempo-
rary, and till the opportunity arrived of convert-
ing the Unfunded into the Funded Debt, which
was approaching daily, it was certainly mush ad-
vantageous to proceed as we were now doing.
Lord COCHRANE insisted that this system of
Exchequer Bills was the. real cause of the rise in
the Funds, in consequence of the Bills being de-
posited in the hands of the Bank,who issued their
notes to Ministers to enable them to go on a while
without a loan. But this would 'ultimately be the
ruin of the public credit. .. •
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied,
that if the Noble Lord would only take the trouble
to inquire on the Stock Exchange—(Hear, bear !
and laughter)—he would find his opinion was to-
tally wrong, and that Exchequer Bills were not so
depreciated. It was difficult to obtain Bank-
notes, except at the price of gold..
Baouonam wished we could get from this
transition, as it was called; to some solid founda-
tion of finance. He had heard a report which he
considered so important, that he could not refrain
from asking whether there was the smallest foun-
dation for it, which he earnestly hoped there was
not. It was known, that the West India Dock
Company was hound, after their annual dividends
amounted to ten per cent. to divide no more, bur
to reduce the rates payable by the merchants. He
1 need .not say that this Company held a sort of com-
whi_eh trade .at present laboured, suit when it
was known that the dividends of the West India
Duck Company had reached 10 per cent Imn, agb,
that their dues should he reduced. It ought to
be so front the state of the conntq‘ ; but the •re-
port-said, that instead of this, G' ' overoment
about, long before the expiration of the charter,
which was fur 21 years, to renew their lea's and
take a fine ; that is, to take 500 or 600-POOOl
for
therenewal of their charter before it had expired;
and this must come our of a fund which should go
to the diminution of the dues. If this were true,
it was au act to defraud the commerce of the
country. Sn monstrous a repot t, he hoped, was
altogether unfounded.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought,
that after hearing such a report, it was surelyth
duty of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman to
w)grunted.in-
-sa
quire into bleifilitretliteakir4oritt
for
:a te rly
Ile could tell
false.--(Hear, hear, hear I)—There had been no
such negociation on foot. Yet be would say, that
it was right on the part of Government, and the
public to participate in these profits. But - the
fact was, that the %Vest India Dock bad
actually I I
actually reduced their rates, which they- were
under 111,0 necessity of asking permission of the
Treasury to do, as they were hound to repay the
moucy advanced, before they could reduce their
rates.
•

Mr. Buouonast, replied, that after what hail
transpired, it
.could not he denier' that there was
some ground for the report Ire had mentioned.
After a few words from Sir CUAIMPS MONCK
and Alder•rnan A'rKINS, who hoped the House
would pause before they granted the renewal Of
the char ter through any expectation of a knots, to
the injury .at the merchants,,,the4xcliquer Bills'
Bill was read a third time and.pasied.
Tire Con►nrirtee on tire Cape Wines Bill was
postponed till Monday.
The Land Revenue Bill went through a Com-
mittee.—Report to-morrow.