The Sun.
London, England, 1817-05-10 00:00:00

EXTENTS IN AID.

The Duke of, BEAUFORT • presented a Petition
from Bristol, complaining of the injurious conse-
quences to commerce of the practice of issuing
Extents in Aid, and stating an instance in whicli
it had been highly prejudicial.
The Earl of LAUDEIWALS observed, that the
great evil of extents in aid arose from the practice
of persons employed in the collection of the re.
venue being partners in country banks, who thus
availing themselves of being debtors to the Crown,
send out extents in aid against their debtors, to
the great injury of the' .other creditors of those
debtors.

•

, 'Ube Earl of LlVEttroOL. agreed, that a great
evil arose front this practice, and in connutotenCet,
of it, ever since he had had the mu nagement of
the Treasury, he had invariably made it a rule that
no person should be appointed to any situation
connected with the collection of the revenue, with
,whom there .was not an express understanding
beforehand, that he was not, nor would be con-
.cerned in any Country Bank ; of course this could
not apply to those who were previously in those
situations, but he was perfectly ready to agree to
an Act of Parliament to prevent persons in future
employed in the collection of the revenue, from
being concerned in Banks.
The Earl of RossLYN observed, that the evil did
not rest here, as, if the Collectors merely depo,
sited any part of the public money in u Bank, the.
bankers, according to the prevailing practice, be'
came debtora of the Crown, anti.coult, sue out
Ltix-
tents in Aid against their debtors, by Which the
other creditors of such debtors were frequently
precluded from recovering a farthing of their de!.
'monde. This practice led to very serious mischief,
and he trusted some remedy would he applied.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, the subject was
under consideration where it was best understood,
namely, by the Barons of the Exchequer.

The Petition was ordered to lie on the Table,

POOR LAWS.

'The Earl of 141V13111440L rose to mbve for a
Cottimittee on the Poor Laws. His Lordship ob•
ierved, he had refrained from making the motion
at an earlier period, because the subject had been
taken up in the House of Commons, by the ap-
pointment there of a Committee to investigate
and he was desirous of first ascertaining whether
that examination was likely to lead to any prat•
tical result. The subject, however, WAS of the

greatest, importance, and tidier with a view to

any measure that might be devised by their
Lordships to remedy the evils that existed,
or to any Thu that. might be sent up Irons
the Commons, it would be highly desirable
that all the information possible should be
colleCted, and that the subject should be examined
and investigated where it could best be considered,
in a Committee. It was a question which had
nothing' fo do aitlt party or political feeling, but-
was undoubtedly a general qttestion of the greatest
moment. He admitted there were great difficui,

ties with regard to the retnedies fur the evils that
resulted from the Poor Laws, that system ot Laws

had existed for between two and three hundred
years, and had become so interwoven with the
habits and prejudices of the country, that the dif•
ficulties were greatly increased, as measures which
when these Laws were first introduced might
have, been sate and beneficial, Were now itw
practicable, and men' of seuse and informa.
tion who bad formed schemes for which' much

fight be said, foupd, when they wile to be

practically estimated, that t hey could not be
carried into effect. There were, however, in

that 1-louse as many individuals Its .could be found
in any other assembly, in proportion to the num-
bers, who Were perfectly well acquainted with
the details of the practice of the Poor Laws and
by means of a Commitee, which several. Noble
Lords had promised regularly to attend, tr giCat
hotly of highly useful information upon the sub-
ject might be collected, and practical remedies
suggested, Widell might have a great effeet'in ro.t.
medying the evils that now existed,' He did not
mean now to enter into any discussion or the sub-
ject, ns he thought it would be much better in
every point of view to wait the result of the ht.
boars tetbe Committee, His Lordsbip con-
eluded by moving for the appointtnent of a Char-.
mittee.

Lord ST.:Jon N entirely approved of the motion,
and signified hi 3 readiness to assist 41 the proposed

estlgation.

Lord Ilot.t.ANn also expressed his approbation,
observing, that it the evils,that now resulted from
the Poor Laws could be done away, the Noble
Earl would confer the greatest possible boon upon
the cOuntry. At present they operated to en-
courage idleness and vice, by discouraging in-
dustry and labour.
The Committee was Ordered.—to cnnsst of ell
the Lords who had been present this Session, and
to meet on Monday at twelve o'clock.