The Sun.
London, England, 1819-05-07 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Ley appeared at the Bar with the Reduced
List of the 'SeleCt Committee appointed to try the
merits of the Taunton Election Petition. The
•
names-were as follows r -
Hon..G. Welhore Ellis, H. Fynes, .Sir G. Cockburn, W.
Fitzhugh, W. Bagwell, E. Protheroe, S. Smith, E. Turton,
W. Selby Lounidci, E. Webb, H. Hainilton, James Alexan-
der, Hon. W. Cost, 'W. Holmes, Hoii. H. G. Bennet.

Mr. Serjeant ONsLow presented a petition from
the Parish of Laurence Pountney, against the
London,Fire Clergy Bill.—Ordered to be referred
to the Committee .on the Bill.
Mr. Wu.sopt, presented a petition from Hackney,
against the Parish Clerks' Bill.—Ordered to lie on
the table.
Mr. LONG WELLESLIiir was ordered to be dis-
charged out of the custody of the Serjeatit-iit-
Arms, on the payment of his fees. •

FOWEY ELECTION.
The names of the Reduced• List of the Select
Committee appointed to try the' merits of the
Fowey Election Petition,:weie as follows :

Earl-Bective, Right Hon. C. Grant, J. Smith, G. Mac-
pherson Grant, Hon. It. Curzon, Thomas T. Drake, E.
Hornby, It. Wagan Talbot, B. Gastell, L. Coricannon, E.
Synge Cooper, J. Innes, Hon. Newton Fellowes, W. Courte-
nay, J. S. Copley.
13pLIDETT said, he bad a petition in his
hand, which it was his intention to present that
day, bit as none of the Lords of the Admiralty
were in their'plaCes, he rose to give notice of his
intemtiod.to present it to morrow. ,

SCOTCH filjnims. •
Colonel STP.wAaT presented a petition froth the
Borough 'of New Galloway, against any reform
iwthe'Crinititution of Scotch Boroughs. The
gallant•Offiter• Stated, in a tone of voice scarce-
ly audible in the Gallery, that if Petitions of a
contrary tendency had been sent to the House
by other Burghs, it must have been because they
had not attended to the Bill introduced last Session
by the Lord .Advocate. . •
Mr. J. P. GRANT assured the Hon. Gentleman
that the inhabitants ol the Sottish. Burghs bad
paid the greatest attention, to the Bill introduced
by the Lord Advocate. lie ..should have.to present
a petition atom one of the Corporations of Edin-
burgh, which would showthatt)tey had paid much
attention to that Bill. in their opinion it made
bad worse. It confirmed all existing abuses, and
prevented their remedy.
The petition was then laid On the table, and
ordetseilto be printed.
Sir RONALD FERGUSON'presented a petition
from the inhabitants of the Town of Dunfermline,
to vindicate their character' from the aspersion
MI. upon it by a Member of that, House, who in
.one of his speeches had represented them as not
being respectable. The petition had lain.but a
few hours for signatures, and had been signed•by
952 persons.
The SPEAKER observed, that it was irregular
for any one to know what had passed or been said
in that House.

'Lord CASTLEREAGH considered that as thAt was
inconsistent with the privileges of the House, the
"petition could not be received.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH !Ad a similar petition,
signed by 7 or 800 persons in Edinburgh, %%hid)
would probably he deemed liable to the same ob-
jection.

After -a few words from Sir It. FRRGUSON and
Sir G. WARRENDERJ the two petitions were with
drawn.

Mr. J. P. GRANT prebented a petition'from the
Corporation of Tailors of• Edinburgh, stating,that
they had heard with attonishmeut and indigna-

Mr. Peat, presented the Report from the Come
mittee appointed to inquire into the Affairs of the
Bank of England, and into the expediency of their
resuming Cash Payments, at the period at pre-
sent prescribed by law.
On the motion that it be read,
Mr. Et..us..tuggested, that as it was of consi-
derable length, it would save time were only the
material parts of it to be read.
Mr. PEEL observed, that it would be for the
noose to say whether the, whole should be read
or not. The recapitulation of the laws which
had been enacted since 1797 might, if it so pleased
the House, he omitted. That part of the Report
which comprised the general detail of the trans-
actions between Government and the Bank of
England, and of the relations at present subsist-
ing between them,•more especially as referring to
the advances„made by the Batik to.,Government,
would be found very:important, as would also, of
course, the latter parts of the Report,.adverting
to the question of the Resumption of Cash Pay-
ments by the Bank in2.lnly next, and to the pro-
positions offered to the House by the Committee

on the sobject:
Mr. J. P. GRANT thought the whole of the Re-
port so material that it ought to be read.
After a few words from Mr. MAP.Eamr and Mr.
the Clerk proceeded to read the lie
port, of which the following will be found to be
a correct outline : •

The Report began by stating, that the Committee had first
applied themselves to ascertain the total amount of the de-
mands likely to be made on the Bank in the event of their
resuming cash payments. This, op to the first of last Jar.-
nary, it appeared, was 23,p4,5501. It was found that the
Bank had effects to meet this charge, amounting to
3',096,9001., leaving a surplus of 5,202,3201. exclusive of the
Treasury Debt of 1'4;580;0001. to be paid On the expiration of
the Bank Charter. This wassutlicient to prove the eitcurn,
stances of the Bank were such as to justify the 'confidence
with which the Public had reposed on their solvency. The
next point the Committee had applied themselves to inquire
into, was, as to the amount of bullion collected by the Bank

. •
Company, at any one 'perio' since the year 1797, preparatory
to the resumption of cash payments. They had found that
there had beena greht many fluctuations, but that there had
been a great diminution of their store towards the close of
the late war. It had gradually increased from July 1815 to
October 1817. During the interval been July 1815 and Oc-
tober 1817, the market price of gold had averaged 31. 165.
per ounce, the exchanges being all that time in favour of.
this Country. The Bank had taken advantage of this stale
of things to purchalte gold, with a view to return to cash
payments, to , a very considerable amount, and they might
have purchased still more, had not an act of their own had
the effect of raising its price to 31. 18s. 6d. per oz. Mr. Gold)
sinid had informed the Committee, that during the time
above-mentioned, there were no bUyers of gold in the mar:
het but the Bank, and if there had been they might have been
supplied at the same prices. Being asked if any quantity of
gold might not have been purchased at that price? he re-
plied, it was a matter of opiniOn; but he thouglitany quan-
tity might have been purchased at that time for 31. 16s. per
oz. In the year 1817, the Bank bad procured a much larger
supply of bullion and cash than had ever been accumulattd
since the establishment of the Bank. This stock had been
prOgressively diminished; in consequence.Of the engagements
entered into by tiie Bank to pay all notes:of a certain value,
issued between the Ist January, 1812, and Jan. 1, 1816; and
subsequently, all notes issued before January I,' 1817. The
total amount of gold coin paid away by the Banhin conse-
quence of these engagements between the Ist Jan. 1817, and
the Ist Jan. 1819, amounted in guineas and half-guineas
1,596,6261,; and in sovereigns and half-sovereigns to
4,4•:-9,72 1. making,a total issue of more than Six millions
within the.period described. No doubt could be entertained
as to the cause Of the demand for coin. It was not wanted'
for the internal oirculation of the country, but it had beeii
called for either to make a . profit on its sale as bullion at
Lonief or fur the purpose of exporting it ton foreign marl-et.
This was the opinion of the Committe, and it was amply.
home out by doeuments before them. From January to July;
1817, the Bank had issued in.gold but 98,0201. 10s. though
they were liable to be called upon to pay their notes issued
prior to January 1, 1816. In July, .1817, the foreign ex-,
changes became unfavourable far this, country, and had con-
tinued so ever since. The consequence was,
ithe Bank had
been subject to a constant demand for cash, in payment of
their notes, and had gendrained of 17;t1C11 of their treasure.
The evidence of Mr. A. Baring before the Committee she wed
to what purpose the gold thus drained from the Bank Was
ap-
plied. He showed that it appeared from the Report of the
each Ministers, that in the sixteen months which preceded
the Ist of last January, there had been coined in France, gold,
amounting to one hundred and twenty-five millions of francs,
about 5,000;0001. sterling, while the. silver coined within the
same period
,amounted to but about 3,000,000 of francs.--
Three-fourths of the gold, it was proved, had been obtainial
from this country: The Committee were satisfied that the
Bank, in , undertaking to pay notes of a "certain date
and fractional sums in gold, were animated by the beat

...--a:

'notices, and by b sincere desire to teze,crate the arri-
cal of the period fur the resumption of cash pay-
ments ; but at the same time they had to regret, that, un-
fortunately, it had produced a contrary effett. The last of
their notices, issued when the price of gold was at 31. 18a. 6d.
per ounce, had taken from them that control over their levies
...hid, might have enabled them to diminish their paper cir-
culation. Their issues of Bank notes had, in fact, increased
to that half-year. During the war, or at least at the close of
it, it appeared that the amount of Bapk notes in circulation
was 26,716,7141. In the half-year to which he had referred
it was 29,210,0351. having been in the half-year immediately
preceding it but 27449.7661. Front the return made in
uly 1417, when the dividends were about to be paid, it ap-
peared that the Bank nut es then in circulation amounted to
86,800,0001. The outstaniing notes on the 4th October in
the same year amounted to 28,900,0001. The sotereigns is-
sued between July and September 1417, amounted to
1,246,4221. Had these remained in en culation, there would
upon the whole have been an increase upon the circulation of
thw preceding half-year of 3,08,5421. The Committee could
'km hitt I email:, that wlta:ever might he the policy of the

awl flowerer la.itlabir their motres, to is,ne g-014.1
when it was above the Mint price, withoot diministong their

i;s•rws was prodoc!ive of niony inconvenience+4.—

17.11e4, thoy I,(l.ce.Srd •tich a c,hl rottl vver 1 heir paper 7%.,

to be capable of red•ic;ng the aniowit tontstandintr, it ap-
peared highly inexpedient to enter upon that extensive
though 1.4 rtial issue of coin which Ita,i occasioned t been

rn senors a logs without in any way henefitintz the coun-
t v. It was under this impression, and fro:u the conviction

that such payments, ii stead of aeceleratinz, tended but to

postpone the period at which cash payments might he with
rafr•ty resumed, that the Cmninittee had, in their First He-

Sort, recommended the immediate passing of a law to re-
'train all payments in cash till they should- be enable to 50)-
Wit to the Howie their slew of the whole of the -sithject.
'The Committee had next proceeded to inquire what, issues
of the Bank of England were outstanding on Government
securities, or, in other Words, they had proceeded to
in-
quire into the amount of the debt due to the Bank of England
from the country. 'far re-p.i...ment of this was so earnestly
called for by the Bank, and so many considerations of import-
ance Were connected with it, that the Committee thought it

necessary to go into the history in detail of those advaneei
made 14y the Bank, which had had the effect of depriving
hem of that control over their issues which-it was desirable
possess; and in the Appendix to the Report there would
be found an account of the sums advanced by the Bank to the
Government on Exchequer Bills, from the year 1792, up to
the latest period to which the same could he made out. The
fist item that had claimed their attention was an advance
of 1,810,0001. This, however, the Committee could not re-
gard as a debt due to the Bank from Government, as the sum
in question had been originally given to the Batik to pay the
public Creditors their dividends, and not having heen
claimed by those to whom it had belonged, had finally been
drawn from the Bank, and appropriated to the service of the
public, under the provisions of certain Acts of Parliament,
passed in 1791, 1808, and 1815. It would be seen, a great

proportion of the advances from the Bank had been made on I
3:xchequer which were distinguished from each other Rs
Bills issued and Bills purchased. The Report then went into
the history at large of the t egulations under which it had been
originally provided that all advances from the Bank should
be made. They were restricted from advancing cash, hut on
supplies voted by Parliament or Bills of Exchange, issued
under the authority of the Lords of the Treasury. Between
the years 1777 and 1792, they had assisted the commerce of
the country by discounting other Bills of Exchange, and an
Act was passed in 1723 to'protect the Governor and Company
from the penalties which It was thought might attach to the
course they had pursued, if the provisions of the Act passed
in the time of William and Mary, when the Bank was esta-
blished, should be enforced against them. The motives for
passing that Act had been explained by Mr. Bosaoquet in the
rear 1797, and the provisions of the Act of 1793. allowing the
Bank to discount bills to a certain amount, was continued
'ha an Act passed shortly after the Bank Restriction Act.—
It then gave, from the Appendix of the report, a statement
of t: e issues and advances made by the Bank from 1814 to
1819, and described the arrangements made in May, tBlB, to
repay to the Bank, in the course of the year, the sum of from
3 to 9,000,0001. by instalments of t,000,0001. per month. The
'Bank had considered that the S or 9,000,0001. they were to
receive would enable them partially to resume cash payments.
Provision haul been made for the payment of the• Bank by
loan of 3,000,0001., and by a plan fur gradually Amain Ex-
ebequer Bills, on certain terms, to the ansountof 27,000,0001. ;
but the mosey raised by these expedients fell short of what
was expected, and not more than the sum of 5,000,0001. had
been repaid. The total amount advanced by the Bank to
Government it had appeared was 9,435,9001. The amount
advanced for dividends was 1,980,899. Of these sums it ap-
reared desirable that a large proportion should be paid pre-
paratory to the resanuption of cash payments. This done,
the Bank could reduce their discounts as far as was necessary
to give them a proper control over their issues. The only
mode by which the Bank could prepare for cash payments,
while that which they had advanced to the country remained
unpaid, was by limiting that accommodation to trade which
they had long been accustomed to afford by discount-
ing Bills of known solidity, which were to run but for
a short and fixed period. Butt while the Bank claimed the re-
payment of a considerable part of the sums they had advanced,
and the Committee recommended that this should be done,
they thought it right and no more than justice to the country
to direct the attention of the House to the balances in the
bands of the Batik. Their consideration had first been called
to these by the Committee of 1807. At that time it was
shown the public balances in the hands of the Bank amount-
ed to the sum of 11,104,9:91. Their average amount from
the year Iso7 to 1815, when the war terminated, was
11,000,0001. In consideration of these balances the Bank
hadadranced for the service of the public the sum of 3,000,0001.
in 1808. Since the year 1815 the balances in the Bank had
diminished in amount, and had not averaged more than
7,000,0001. By an Act passed in the present Session of Par-
liament, their growing produce, to a limited amount, had
been made applicable to the service of the country. The
Committee were anxious that this part of the subject should
he clearly understood. They recommended provision to be
made for the payment of 10,000,0001. of the sum due to the
Bank, and the establishment of a permanent system which
should bring the publie balances, and the arrangements con-
nected with them, more immediately under the eye of Par-
liament. The Committee next proceeded to consider whe-
ther it would he expedient that cash payments should
be resumed at the period now fixed upon. Taking'
:he issues of the. Bank into their consideration, and
Ott bullion which they had at their command to rout

their outstanding notes, they were satisfied, shit if it
were decided that the Bank should resume cash payments in
July next, it would be necessary for them suddenly to stop
their discounts, and diminish that part of their currency
which was under their Immediate controul. Much important
evidence had been furnished to them on the effects which
would flaw from such a course of procecdio';. Mr. Baring,
Mr. Haldeman, and Mr. Gladstones, had declared, that in
their opinims these would be seriously injurious to our com-
merce. After giving the subject every consideration, the
Committee were decidedly of opinion, that it would he expe-
dient to continue the restrictions on cash payments beyond
the sth of July next. They now came to offer such observa-
tions as they felt it their ditty to make as to the period at
which it would be advisable that cash payments should he re-
sumed. In considering this part of the subject, they had first
directed their attention to ascertain what supply of gold would
he necessary to effect the resumption of cash Payments. It
was tlitticult to determine what quantity of gold had been in
circulation previous to the passing of the Bank Restric-
tion Act in 1797. A variety of estimates hail been made,

hot it sceined most g,i,rally agreed that its probable
linolint might he about 30,000,0001. Whatever its amount
might have bet!), there was reason to believe the wtio!e

of it lied liven exported. Ois this subject, it referred to the
opinions of Mr. Harman, the late Lord LiverpooL and
Mr. Ito.;e, and proceeded to give the opinion of Mr. A.
Baling:, on the sum that it would he necessary to provide
against the resumption of Cash Payments. For thi, purpose.
Le thought, from 40,000,0001. to 45,000,0001. would he

wanted if Cash Payments were so restuned as t,- exclude al;
one and two pound notes from circulation. lie 'IA not mean
to say that a beginning could not he Enitde till thk sum sys
pr,vided; but be.Wai of opitton that this 5001 in gold would

!it. filially aWorlied. Olt data so imperfect as were those he-

fore the Committee on this subject, it WAS d:tiicult to give
au opinion ; but the Committee was inclined to consider
thilt Mr. Baring had orer-stated the sum that would actually
be required. It appeared, that when the. Bank had par-
tially resumed Cash Payments, no extraordinary desire to
possess coin had been manifested by the Public. Geoe-
rally they seemed indifferent about it, and, instead of
fetching gold from the Bank, they had frequently carried
gold to it till the exchanges became unfavourable to this
country. This state of things continued till the financial
Operations in France commenced. Then the tide imme-
diately turned, and there was a drain on the flank which.
had continued ever since. Mr. Stucky, of Somerset, hail
stated that at the period which preceded the financial ope-
rations if, France they had gold in circulation in his part
of the country, and they had transmitted' to town from the
house to which he belonged as many guineas'as had cost 1001.
for their carriage. In lal7 he bad brought to town with
him 1000 guineas. Ile had purposed leaving them at a bank-
er's, hut this he was requested not to do, as he had sent so
many to the Bank that they were unwilling to trouble the
Bank by lending any more, and they the more desired
to be excused from having any thing to do with them, as
they caused trouble from the attention paid to their weight.
The Committee were of opinion, that by the time cash pay-
ments were resumed, the Bank ought to be prepared not
°illy with a larger supply of bullion than it was probable
would be called for, for the circulation of the country, bnt
also with enough to sustain any drain on them that might
occur, from an eagerness to export or to hoard the gold that
Wright be issued. The Committee were of opinion,that causes
were now in operation which necessarily threw great difficulties
in the way of obtaining a sufficient supply of bull! m for the
circulation of the country, and more so as hot a short supply
of the precious ineta:s had latterly found their way into Eu- •
rope from the disturbed state of the Spanish Colonies. These
difficulties might be surmounted, hut they certainly made in-
creased exertions necessary to procure an adequate supply.—
Unless a diminution of the paper in circulation took place
corresponding in amount to the gold issued, it was in vain
for the Bank to attempt to make payments in coin, and it
did not appear to then► that any effort that could he made to
enable tine Bank to pay their paper in gold, at the rate of
31. 17s. 1 ltd. per ounce, would he of advantage to the coun-
try, if the parties demanding Kohl for their notes could
immediately obtain a profit of 5 or 6 per vent. on its exporta-
tion. The Report next took a view of the causes of the ex-
changes becoming unfavourable to this country, and of the
various opinions on the course which the Bank ought to have
taken on the occasion, and on the consequences of the fo-
reign loans, and the investments of British property in fo-
reign funds, which had operated on the exchanges. The opi-
nion of the Committee on consideration of these was, that the
future effect of foreign loans on our circulation would he very
!United, and when they looked at the extent and value of the
exporting produce of this country, they need not doubt the
practicability of obtaining, at no distant period, a sum
adequate to the wants of the country. That great dif-
ficulties were in the way of returning to Cash Pay•
ments could not denied, but these were outweighed
by the importance of restoring to the country the advan-
tages of that medium by which, before 1737, the value
of all commodities was measured. This opinion having been
expressed by the Legislature on various occasions, the only
duty the Committee had to perform, was to point out at what
particular period the resumption of cash payments ought to
take place. if they could see a way by which the difficulties
might he met, without postponing and thus aggravating the
they wished to remove, the Committee hoped they should
evil not exceed their powers by suggesting such a plan, even
though it involved a temporary departure from the law of
our currency. A plan of such a nature had been sub-
mitted to them, the effect of which would be to compel
the Bank to furnish gold in bars of standard fineness, and
of the weight of sixty ounces, at the rate of 31. 17s. lOid.
per ounce, after the Ist of May, 1821, to the holders of Bank
notes to that amount; and in two, or at most in three years
after this, it was proposed that the general resumption of
cash payments should take place. In the interim it was re-
commended, in order to make the payments in cash gradual,
that front the Ist of February, 1820, the Bank should be pre-
pared to pay, in bars of gold of standard fineness, and of the
weight of sixty ounces, at the rate of 41. Is. per ounce, to the
holders of Brink notes to that amonnt ; and that on or before
the Ist of October, 1820, the Bank should, in like manner,
be prepared to pay With bars of gold at the rate of 31. 19s.
6d., and then, as before stated, to pay on the Ist of May fol-
lowing, in bars of gold, at the rate of 31. 17s. lOid., the
Mint price, of gold. The chief recommendation of this
plan was this, that it would have the effect of en-
abling the Bank to commence their payments earlier
than they could under any other, without exposing
the country to a most serious loss from the immediate
exportation of the bullion issued, while a sufficient quantity
of notes would remain in circulation to keep in activity the
industry of the country. It was calculated by this expo-

client that madi *.vai:l3 lie brAing aose
who wished to export gold coin, _and the snin required
to carry it into effect, Mr. Baring It:11,11t, would not in the
first instance exceed sor 6,000,0001. At all events, calcu-
lating on liciteding to a large amount, that Hcnottrable Gen-
tleman thotrelit 0,000,0001. would be sufficient for every
purple. Mr. Hall was of opinityr it would not impedo the
circulation of the country, while it gave to the Bank. notes art
efficient standard. of value superior to that beloireing to the
paper circulating' medium of any other coittney. The Report
'fated the reasons which made the Committee recommend that
payments in gold should continence between the first of Fe-
bruary, 1820, and the first of May, 1821. .The House hating
more than once fixed a period for the resumption of payments
in specie, though the measure was desirable, had been induced
to put it off to give the Batik time to prepare for it. The
Committee, desirous iu reConlitieflthllr, a further postpone-
mem, wished to give the public an additional security that
there shall lie to- new delay, lint that cash payments snail
take place at the lime which they now recommend it to the
House to name ftr that purpose. Such security they think
will he given by calling on the Rink to commence their pay-
ments on the plan proposed in February, 1820. By thus ef-
fecting a partial return, many of the impediments in the way
of the general resumption Of cash payments would, it was
expected, lie overcome. The Committee were aware that
by continuing in circulation cotes undet the value ut 51, they
left the public exposed to the forgeries which had been so
frequent of late years, and it might be objected that in pro-
posing that gold should be given to the balder of notes to
the ;tinsiiint of sixty ounces of gold, ant advantage was given
to such a person, which was withheld front the holder of a
smaller note. This plan however had se, era! advantages.—
It might be remarked on the second ohjection, that it a gene-
ral resumption of cash payments were now to take place,
lii,tl;:h the number of Bank notes in circulation would lie
greatly diminished, it might not follow that the fineries
would be dimislied in the %Mlle degree It was however booed
that the att,hipts now waking to prevent the forgery of Bank
notes would greatly diminish the lrequeocy of that crime.
The plan now in progress, the Committee expected to be in
active smerat ion in the course of three 'tomtits. Sir .liosepli
Ilani,s and 1)r. Woolastoit had been examined by the Coto-
mitts c, and they had expressed a conlideut hope that the
plan w.aild answer, and that for4eries would very seldom
oreur; huh had Atatvd themselves to be condrined in
their former favourable opinion of the plait, by experiments
witick have ialsen place sluice the date of the Report of the
Commission which hail been Appointed to inquire into tile
means of prtees.ting the forging of The Clllll..
mittee it-commend no alteration of the Mint Laws, but they
strongly recommend the to al repeal of the laws prolsitiiting
ti.e welting exatirtation of Coin. These laws had been
found wholly inefficient to prevent the ',fleece. they were in•
tended in repress—they served but to encourage perjury, and
to give the etsholiest, who set the laws at defiance, an adroit-
tage which they ought not to enjoy over those who respected
them. The Report then notices!, at great length, the info! ma-
i ion they had received respecting the issues nt Conatry Banks,
but were not prepared to recommend any, new laws for their
regulation, and having mentioned the inconveniences expe-
rienced trom the rapid contraction of this currency ill Nit;
Alld'l9l7, as Ca likely again to occur, it concludes! with some
observations on the extent of the circulation of the Batik of
England Netes, which it stated was not to he ascertained
from a mere numerical statement of the number outstanding
at any particular time.

The Report, having been laid on the table, was
ordured to be printetl.
Mr. Tt FRNEY asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
cheque' if he intended, before bringing out the
Budget, to come tot wart with any plan for
putting the finances of the country on a wore
sound and more intelligible foundation ?
The. CHANCELLOR of the'EXCHECLUER said, at
the n•ual time he should enter into the customary
explanation of the state of the finances of the
country. To that extent he could answer the
Right lion. Gentleman, and no curt her.

TIERNEY then gave notice, that no Tut's-
day, the 18(1) inst.he would move that the House
lloidd go into a Committee on the State of the
Nation.

Mr. PEKE. suggested it, might be desirable to
lelay the printing of the Report fur several days
iil the Appendix could appetr with it.

For the Remainder of the PAtliamentary Proceedings, see
the Last Pagv.l

LONDON JOURNALS.

'FROM THE MORNING PAPEUS OF TIIIS DAY.
[Morning Post.]

If the clamour raised by a few individuals
against .‘ the Electing' Oath Bill," which is to
he read a second time this evening, should prevent
its passing into a law this Session, a strong im-
press:on will be made on the piddle mind, by the
discussion of the subject, and ultimately the great
object of the Bill would be obtained ; tor, " in a
countty like this, the public voice will eventually
make itself heard, and when heard, it must he
triumphant ; for al:bough public opinion is slow,
it is sure in its progress, and doubly sure in
cases of srioral feeling." And we do not know
any subject so likely Jai affect the feelings of
the people as those wiiich relate to their tights
and liberties. To mislead the Public On the pre-
went occasion, it has been roost untruly said, that
this Bill will destroy the right of voting in bur-
gage tenure boroughs ; we therefore refer our
Readers to the rrovisions of the 13i1i, by which it
will be s,en that it will not vary, alter, or abridge
the legal right of voting, either in burgage tenure
or freehold boroughs, its sole object being to re-
gulate the use and exercise of that right—to pre-
vent in future the abuses which have too long
prevailed at elections in these places—and to put
them on a similar footing with electors for coun-
ties, and for cities and towns which arc counties of
themselves. The other objection alleged against 1
this Bill is, that its provisions are novel, and many
of them harsh and unnecessary. We are, however,
informed, that there is no truth whatever in this
assertion, and that the clauses of the Bill are
copied verbatim from the Acts of King George the
Second, which are now in force, for the regu-
lation of Elections in other places. The impor-
taut object of this Bill gives it a strong claim to
the attention and support of the Coontry Gentle.
men, who have a deep interest in its StICCeSS ;
and it is fur that lesson the proprietors of close
boroughs are so adverse to it ; they know and
feel that if occasionality is pat an end to in close
boroughs, the gentry in the neighbourhood ot
them will by degrees recover their fair and natural
influence over the freeholders ; fur these boroughs
will then be no longer under the controul and do-
minion of wealthy patrons living at great distances
from them, who neither know the inhabitants, nor
care for their prosperity, happiness, or welfare.
The practical result of this Bill will be to place
the property in these boroughs in the same
state in which it was it) former times, before the
practice of creating fraudulent voters was invent-
ed to facilitate the corrupt and illegal arrange-
ments which are made for the representation ot
them in Parliament. But of all the suggestions
which have been made on this subject, ~vile have
surprised mss more than the proposition that com-
pensation should be made by Parliament to the
persons who have the greatest number of free-
holds in these places, whose interests it is pie-
s tended will be injured, should the Bill pass into

a LVV. C.le what greunrl this clatte for eotll.
peesation een be j t i fied and supported Ire
leave our Readers and the Country to juht4.•
—We can, however, state a fear re2sons
they are wit entitled to either compensation
or to ihe protection of the Legislature. kirst,
because they may readily sell their freeholdf
fur a price twenty blues the amount of their ore,
ginid coat ; and Secondly, bet.tuse from the co"
rupt teie they have male of that property, chef(
have tot kited all claim to the consideration °:
Parliament. The wery in which this species 01.
property is used, need only be stated to conrinTce
the world of the juts! nes, of our observatiens• Is'f4
content with the iilintleti rent of their freeholds,
the proprietors of boroughs, by the means thief`f
have of cleating txcasional voters, and overwbelf
ing the outstanding iedeliendeut Freeholders, ".
rain from. their illegal influence large considerai
Lions for the representation of these places, 61.7„
so secure on every General Election pecuoiarYst,s
vanieges, which could net be obtained from 1111
species of property, if the regulations of Electinus
in other places were extendkel to these borouell:;
It it were necessary, we could state the loin''
sums which have been received in !natty borougli,
meter the circumstances we refer to ; but ibe'c
observations will satisty the Country rl"4
tin
tbritu emu be made.out for public compensation
this case, as the right of. Election remains filtio
touched, and is only to be restricted in use,
e-e
secure the freedom Of Election, and to prev:l,le
the r•.currenee of the illegal practices whichi
so long been reprobated by the Courts of
L tie
of
and by ell the great Constitutional ‘Vriters
country. Whatever may be the tate of this 11`"Ie
sure, we are, oe mature reflect ion, saisf "1
iea „.
the interest we have taker) in Its suf:cess-1-,
veneed IS to the support of the Legl
‘v-
(We, not only from the corriietten weten
pet
check, but trout the salutary eff et it will love%
tire minds of the people, wii will consider 4 as,
positive proof of the determination of Perlis/P.1:o
to put au end to the abuses which have crePiFit
the Repiesentative SysTeni, contrary to the
of the Constitetion, and io violation of Ibe
CV
mon law of the land.

orning Chtonicle
We find that the Reporter of Alt. Bennet's ennet's'pee,
on the introduction of his BM for the Liee"h%
System, lids made that Geotleman say.. 1
" 1-30
though there were many cases of opprt.ssi"4,l,
the country, yet he comcietitiousig believed notfi-i
)61,`
of the kind existed in London." I'oe truth is,
direct opposite statement was made, and
t3k
Bennet quoted instances from the evidence ,t e
before the l'o!ite Committee, hi order t04.".41,.,
ti!e misconduct of the Middlesex Licensulg
gistrates.

NOTICES of MOTIONS, and ORDERS of the DAY, i 'Ott
n,sw stand in the Order-book of the Ilouss of Ccovgoo'
fur 'llll% DAY.