The Sun.
London, England, 1828-05-31 00:00:00

individual character a most deserving man ; but, witiout.
intending to. reflect upon that character, he must say
.that
his appointment as counsel to the Colonial Department was
a most objectionable appointment, considering the situation
in which he stood with respect to the dispute between this
Government and what was termed the West Indian inte-
rest. It was said in the West Indies, that he had drawn
up the -celebrated colonial letter of Mr. Huskisson. Now,
"let that be as it might, Ministers ought to have paid atten-
tion to the representation of the general feelings of the West
Indies on that subject.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had; in
his intercourse with public office, known. the Learned
Gentleman alluded to (Mr. Stephen), and believed him to
be a man of honour and of complete impartiality.
Mr. IL GORDON knew how delicate this queetion was
Neverthelesi, although he gave full credit to the merits of
Mr. Stephen, still such was the prejudice against him, and
such was the very extraordinary coincidence between his
(Mr. Stephen's) writings relative to colonial affairs, and
the public acts of the Government.at home, alluding more
particularly to the late despatch of the Colonial Minister
(Mr. Huskisson), where whole passages were literally the
same, that he verily believed no one circumstance would
tend more to conciliate the colonies than—not the removal,
for he , meant no reflection upon the,individual, but—the
promotion of that gentleman to some other office.
Mr. BRIGHT had no. desire whatever to speak dispa-
ragingly of Mr. Stephen, although he felt the weight of
prejudice which called for his removal, and knew that it
would be the greatest step which the Government could
take towards the conciliation of the colonies. He looked
confidently to a great improvement in the colonial system
from recent regulations.

Mr. HUME complained of the employment of certain
persons in the public departments as colonial agents. There
were in this manner agents for Demerara and Lower Ca-
nada, and he objected upon principle strongly to appoint-
ments of that description. Near 40,0001, was last year ex=
pended in this manner for Colonial. agents, while only
9,0001. was so laid out during 1797.
The resolution was then agreed to. -

31r. DAWSON then moved the resolution for granting
77,2284 2s. for defraying the contingent expences of the
departments of the Treasury and Privy Council for Ib2B,
which was agreed to.
The next resolution was for a sum of 6,500/. for com-
pensation for the Commissioners to inquire into the revenue
of Ireland and other departments in Great Britain.

Mr. HUAIE said tl;,at the Act under which the Com-
missioners had inquired had ceased last year. It was quite
time to have their report, particularly upon the Post
Office (Ireland.)
Mr. DAWSON hoped that the report would be speedily
produced.
Mr. HUME asked what could the Commissioners be
about now, as their authority had ceased under the Act of
Parliament ?
Mr. HERRIES said, that although the Act had ceased.
the Crown had given authority for the continuation of the
Commission, to admit of the conclusion of its labours.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT complained in the strongest
terms of the want of due economy in the conveyance of the
Irish snail. The Liverpool Steam Navigation company
had offered to take the mail from Liverpool to Dublin
gratuitously, yet, in defiance of such an offer, the Govern-
ment had thought proper, at an expense of 16,000/. ft=
year, to establish packets of their own, and enter into in-
jurious competition with the Steam Company, at the public

expense.
Mr. HUME complained that the reportupon the Stamp
Duties, ordered three year's ago in Scotland, and two years
in Ireland, had nut been yet produced. These reports had
been promised last Session, and he only waited their pro-
duction to bring the whole subject before Parliament.

Mr. HERRiES vindicated the Commissioners from any
unjust imputation by this delay.

Mr. HUME reiterated his complaint at the extraordinary
delay which had arisen respecting the Scottish Report.
Mr. J. WOOD referred to the Liverpool Steam Naviga-
tion Company, as having offered facilities to the Govern-
Ment in the transmission of the Dublin mail, which would,
if accepted, have saved a large portion of the public money.
Mr. DAWSON was .not insensible of the advantages.
offered ; but there was a general post-office regulation
against sending the public mails by private ships, over
which the proper authorities bad no positive controul.-
Although the offer, in the first instance, was gratuitous ;
yet, if acted.upon, there was no doubt a charge would ulti-
mately be made. and. the Post-office thought it better at
once to undertake the business upon their own responsibility.
sz-pwycvsur et:}} Alat,
the losers as Well as the steam company—the former by m-
-1 curring an.unnecessary expence, the latter by being ex-
posed to an expensive competition, supplied in an un-
called for mariner out of the public-purse.
_ _

Mr. HERMES, reverting to the stamp report, had just
learned that the ScOttiah report had been already presented
and printed.
Mr. BARING complained that the transmission of the
Dover and Calais 'mail was as susceptible of economical
regulation as that of the Liverpool and Dublin. Surely
equal security Could be obtained from the private compa-
nies, as from the mail-coach proprietors, for the safe and
certain conveyance of the bags. - The effect of competition
with these conveyances, at the -public expense, was to
drive out useful private speculation, fur the latter could not
hope to go on with the former.
Mr. BRIGHT complained of the irregularity of these
private steam conveyances to the north of Europe. He
bad himself experienced last year the inconvenience of
their not bringing the letters when they were expected by
them.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
these observations would receive due attention.

Mr. P. THOMSON concurred in the opinion of the ad-
vantages to be derived from transmitting the mail by the
steam companies, and the Rotterdam and another were
always carefully and regularly conveyed in this manner.
He was quite sure that a beneficial arrangement might be
made for the public in this respect.
Mr. BRIGHT again complained of the great inconve-
nience felt in the north of Europe front the delay to which
he had adverted. Some regular system ought to be esta-
blished, and these steam-boats, when they professed to give
facilities to the mail, should be bound to abide by the post-
office regulations. The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. DAWSON next moved for 7,0001. to defray the
salaries of the officers of the Court of Exchequer.
Mr. HUME complained strongly of the inutility of the
Exchequer as a check upon the Treasury. It was an ob-
solete, extravagant, and useless establishment, and he hoped
this would be the last year of its appearing in the estimates.
The Hon. Member was reminded that this resolution was

not for the Exchequer-office, hut for the Officers of the
Court of Exchequer; and the resolution was then
agreed to.
Mr. DAMSON then moved that a sum not exceeding
9.531. ss. be paid for the salaries of certain professors of
-Oxford and Cambridge, for reading certain courses of lec-
tures.

Mr. lIUME did not rise to object to this grant ; but be
hoped it would be a precedent for a similar grant to the
London University, if talent were the real foundation of the
claina.—(An lion, Member exclaimed, "and Aberdeen
also.")—Aberdeen has it already.
Mr. PAWSON next moved, that a sum not exceeding
13,6691. be granted to defray the salaries and expences of
the Insolvent, Debtors' Court.

Mr. Alderman WAIT HMAN complained in the strcmg,
est terms of the institution, and expressed a hope *hat his
Majesty's Government would get rid 4 the Court alto-
gether.

Mr. HUME (or.the fiftieth time would submit to the
Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, the expediency of the
total abolishing of imprisonment for debt. If the princi-
ple of the Bill lately introduced by the Hight Hon. Gen-
tleman were good for any thing, it should in his (Mr.
Hume's) opinion be carried much further.
• Mr. PEEL thought it would be much better to try the
policy of the measure gradually. lie wan nos for advanc-
ing so rapidly as the Hon. Gentliv.-rian would, haste him, in
the abolition of itnprisopment for debt.
Mr. 111,JMU conceived, that the scale in the Right WV.
Gentleman's Bill should be raised somewhat 1416", it the
experiment were worth trying at all.
Mr. PEEL said his Bill loft it at the option of the plain!.
tiff either to procod against the person of the defendant or
and also the super-
hot goons ; but if he should bring it into a. (41'
he could, not go against the defendant's person.. Tilt Bill
also raised the amount from 21. to 1071,
itli man WAITIIIII VN
unty Court,
After a few words frKA Mr, A. er • - , ,
the res,al44oo ryas put and carried.. ,
Oh the resolution for granting 4,790/, tcT, Paying the
salaries of the officers, awl, the contingent exFsticts a the
idoved. al igliat swiry64 being put,
oalTe.ntieafutifirntshoer'suipeeiii:rierra.iptit'llfelst.lrofneers
formerly
em_
' Mr: A. BARING said, he saw from this estimate, that
, while the chief clerk bad only 3051. a mi., a sinwran-
',mated clerk bad GOO/. He shoult; Biro to know who-this
superannuated clerk was who revived 6001. a year, while
- I,' ": leic. I►.`d but the preypFt c tet c i fa , SOS/ per annum, and for
what reason such a disproportionerl allowance was giyen to
r a retired Officer.

'Mr. PEEL said, the individual to whom this superan-
nuation was allowed, had retired from the establishment
in .1813, af;er twenty years' service. The late chief clerk
much more to do than the present. Since the present
Alien Bill had come into operation, there was a material