The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-08 00:00:00

MINORITY.

Iji FAVOUR OF RECEIVING A PETITION COMPLAINING OF CRUELTY
AND OPPRESSION IN LANCASTER GAOL.--MARCII 7.
Bennet, lion. H. G. Guise, Sir Wm. Palmer, C. F.
Bright, H. Hobhouse, J. C. Robinson, Sir G.
Byn,g, G. Hume, Jos. Rowley, Sir W.
Bernal, ltalph Hutchinson,Hon.C. lticardo, 1).
Creevey, Thos. Hughes' W. L. Rice, T. S.
Calvert, C. James, Wm. Smith, W.
Cu!craft, J. Lambton, J. G. Tuilt,"C. A.
Dickinson, W. Latouche, Itobt. Wood, Matthew
Denman, Thos. Lockhart, J. J. Western, C. C.
Duncannon, Visct. Markham, Adml. Wilson, Sir R.
Ellice, Ed. Monck, J. B. • Wyvill, M.
Gordon, Robt. Power, R.

DOCTOR CLAIthE'S LECTURES.
CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 6.-This day had been
announced for the commencement of these inte-
resting Lectures, and the room in the Botanic
Garden was crowded by. twelve o'clock. The
man of science and the admirer of genuine elo-
quence have always found equal gratification in
these Lectures, but the interest of them was very
considerably increased by the announcement of
the exhibition of a new Hydrostatic Blowpipe,
capable of maintaining, during two hours, a de-
gree of heat sufficient to melt platinum. In ad-
dition to this principal new object of attraction,
the Lecture Room had received several valuable
awfmentations ; among which were a specimen of
feldspar porcelain ; a curious concretion formed
in the condenser of a steam-engine ; petrified
remains found in a mine near Chester, of some
tree not known at i.re.ol:At in this country ; and a
piece of Arragonite, sent by Mr. Ber,zost, being
a part of the great soeos. Various other mine-
ralogical specimens enriched the Lecture Room,
presented by Mr. OLDHAM ; Dr. WAVEL, of
Devonshire ; Professor SANTI, of Pisa ; Mr.
FRANCIS, of Caius Coll.; Capt. MARItYAT
Mr. SKRING ; Mr. ARCEDECKNE, of St. John's
Coll.; Professor SEDGWICK ; Mr. COLLINS, of
John's Coll.; and Mr. TUCKER, of Cornwall.
An accession of interest was also derived from
several curious articles presented by the New
Zealand Chiefs who lately visited Cambridgei
and particularly an amulet made of the Poonamoo
stone, formed into a grotesque human figure,
and, probably, of the same kind with the Tera,
phim of Scripture. Dr. CLARKE observes of
this, as of figures of a similar nature among the
Egyptians, that one of the eyes is somewhat more
elevated than the other, resembling the apparent
face in the full Moon, to the worship of which
he thinks it ,may have some reference. Ile re-
marked that the New Zealanders differ greatly
from the other Islanders of the South Seas, and
have many points of resemblance to the Egyp-
tians. The Poonamoo stone is found among these
savages, who are ignorant of the use of iron, in
all possible shapes; while Europeans have vainly
endeavoured to work it, and it has resisted the
hardest diamond : this suggests the probability
that the stone is itself a composition, and the
figures formed when it is in a ductile state. It is
procured from a place called Poonamoo, and the
Chiefs were ignorant of the manner of working
it. They manifested great anxiety to be ac-
quainted with our manner of " boiling" iron, as
they called it.—A drawing of SHUNGIIE, the
principal Chief, by Mrs. CLARKE, excited consi-
derable interest.

The Professor then began his usual introduc-
tory Lecture, in which, after having divided the
visible appearances of Nature into living and un-
organized, he defined Mineralogy to be the study
of unorganized existence, and proceeded at some
length to show the necessarily extensive nature
of the science ; its necessity, in some degree at
least, in savage life ; and its constant attendance
on a state of cultivation and refinement. He
proceeded to show the relation subsisting be-
tween organic and unorganic substances, and
that digestion is not peculiar to animals, inas-
much as stones are found to be actually digested
by plants, and the smooth surface of cane was
discovered by Sir HUMPHREY DAVY to be sili-
cious, from accidentally observing the scintilla-
tions emitted from two canes with which his
younger brothers were fencing in the dark. The
Professor refuted the idea of the existence of any
real elementary substance, but stated that all the
substances we are acquainted with might be re-
duced to fifty natures incapable of farther
analysis, and therefore vulgarly called ele-
mentary. The modes of elementary existence
he divided into solid, fluid, and aeriform; the
former of these states being produced by the
power of attraction, the latter by that of repul-
sion, the only two principles acting on material
existences. The latter principle is supposed to
be the fluid matter of heat, and the repulsive
powers of this matter were exhibited in the
Photometer. The natures of hydrogen and
oxygen gasses, the solid and fluid bodies pro-
duced by them, volcanoes, &c. came next under
the Professor's consideration,' and led to the ex-
hibition of the glass blowpipe, by which a thick
wire of platinum was melted; and afterwards the
new hydrostatic blowpipe, which, although not
so
wi
tpho %e
danger.
vrful a s
ef o
Ir3mr
oe
fre, s isso jr) ecrof en cc tl luyd
eudn ti
it
se ted
Lec-
tures with a general panegyric on the Science,
and an exhortation to the study of it.

MURDER AT DEPTFORD.—During this week
the inhabitants of Deptford have been in a
very great state of alarm, in consequence of
a most diabolical murder committed on the
Lower Deptford Road, it is supposed, during
the last week, but which had not been discovered
till last Sunday morning, when a Gentleman'
was going along the bank of the Canal, near
the COmmercial Dock, and he discovered the
body of a man in the water ; he gave informa-
tion to the toll-taker at the Halfpenny-hatch, and
they procured a boat, and brought the body on
shore. The skull was found cleaved in two, and
the brain protruding as if from a blow of an axe
or a sabre. The unfortunate man appeared to
be about thirty years of age ; was dressed in a
blue coat, buff coloured waistcoat, trowsers, and
boots, but was without a hat ; his pockets were
turned inside out, and he wore a bow of white
ribband in his breast, and had in every respect
the appearance of a Gentleman.—Bank, the Po-
lice-officer, has been sent for, and information has
been given to Mr. CARTER, the Coroner; who was
in the country.

In viewing this important subject, it is neces-
sary to look back to the early periods of our
History ; from them we learn the high value our
ancestors set upon the Shipping Interest of the
Country. From the infancy of our Trade, a
series of wise and salutary regulations, called the
Navigation Laws, were fostered for the express
purpose of preserving to British Shipping (un-
der certain restrictions) sundry portions of our
trade with foreign Powers, together with the
whole of our coasting and Colonial Trade.—
The great benefits which have resulted from this
wise system, are too obvious to require detail; it
is sufficient to observe, that it has increased the
wealth and Naval strength of Old England, to the
highest pitch of prosperity and power, and placed
her in the most distinguished and pre-eminent
situation as a great Maritime Nation. Happy
would it be for us—happy for our posterity, to
maintain the glorious resulttinimpaired ; but, alas !
it is already obscured with threatening clouds.
From the inattention and indifference ,which is
shown to these invaluable Laws, and the at,
tempts which are making to infringe their princi-
ples under the most weak and frivolous pretences,
which, if carried into effect, will cause the most
serious evil, not only to the Shipping Interest of
Great Britain, as the emanation and support of
the Navy, but the vital interest of the Country
in all its bearings, for without the Carrying
Trade is maintained, our Mercantile Navy, and
all depending on them for support, must in
a short, time be ruined, and nothing can avert this
calamity, which threatens our existence as a Mari-
time State, but a bold and energetic struggle to
maintain these old venerable principles, from the
innovation of visionary Theorists, who are pre-
suming to question the wisdom of so many cen-
turies.

There undoubtedly should be a united effort
made to prevent any infringement of a body of
Laws, Which have stood the test and experience
of so many ages, which raised this country to a
state of prosperity and greatness unrivalled by
surrounding nations. It is, however, a lament-
able fact, that our theoricians consider our
greatness as one of the reasons that the tonnage
of the country should be reduced, in order to
share our carrying trade with foreign Powers!
It has been declared, that however wise and sa-
lutary the Navigation Laws might have been in
the infancy of our commerce, that they now are
unnecessary, and cramp our operations (or that we
have grown great in spite of them.) But surely
this opinion ought to be reversed, and read thus—
that howeverwise and salutary the Navigation Laws
might have been in the infancy of our commerce,
they are become now more imperatively so, not
only from the increase of foreign shipping, but
likewise from the heavy expences and taxes at
present imposed on British shipping ; for it is
evident that in the first essays of trade, the com-
petition between us and other Maritime States
depended on the respective exertions which each
made in industry and 'good management ; our
ships were not then fettered with heavy du-
ties, which have since been imposed upon
them by the exigencies of the State, and
which our rivals in trade do not bear in the
same proportion. British ships now stand
charged with heavy duties on every article ne-
cessary to their equipment; added to these bur-
thens, they have to contend with the high price
of provisions and great wages, compared with
foreign powers. Under all these united disadvan-
tages is it a matter of wonder that the British
ship owners are no longer able to continue a
contest with their rivals at the same rate of
freight ? compare their situation with Denmark,
Norway, Sweden, Prussia, or the shipping in the
Mediteranean : naval stores are the original pro-
duce of the former ; provision they have cheap,
and seamen's wages low ; so that they are en-
abled to take freights at a lower rate than the
British, and as the smallest difference in that re-
spect determines the preference of the Merchant,
the carrying trade will be entirely wrested from
us ; this indeed will be a new era, by the de-
struction of British commerce: what a lament-
able prospect for the lover of his country !
It surely cannot he known to the wise and
public spirited legislators of Britain that our
ships, and all those who depend upon them for
support, are actually in a state of ruin. Yet
that is an undeniable fact. Happy should I be if
I could arouse my countrymen to a just sense
of the danger which threatens them from such in-
attention to our vital interests ! Certainly the
great importance of the subject deserves the
most serious consideration of the Legislature ;
for it requires very little argument to demon-
strate, that we depend on our carrying trade
for support, as a great maritime nation. Let us
then endeavour to promote this interest, by all
possible means ; it is not too late to prevent such
impolitic measures. I am aware that our Libe-
rals will persuade us that foreign Powers will re-
taliate. Are our seamen, who have so many times

[tio.
PREVENTION FROM DASIP•---,Mr. JOHN Fas. 7
gRox.E, Surgeon of Ross, is in possession of a che-
mical combination, by which buildings, cements,
walks, painted or damp surfaces, in or out of the
external air, may, by simple washing, at a small
expellee, be preserved from the future growth
of obscure vegetation, as the green mould,
lichens, &c. and even diScOlodratiOn.
REPEATING MIJSK ET.—A New York Paper
says,-" the new invented and destructive Re-
peating Musket' is calculated to discharge eight
single balls, in regular succession, within the
space of about sixteen seconds. The musket
has two locks, one at the usual place, and
the other nearly half way down the barrel ;
the balls are perforated, and a small fuse
passes through each, which is lighted by the pre-
vious diseharge,and communicates with the car-
tridge, to which it is attached. The priming hi
the first instance is set fire to by the lock fixed
on the barrel; the trigger of which is drawn by a
wire, and the charge in the chamber of the gua
may be kept in reserve."

RUINS OF POMPEII.—The streets of the City
of Pompeii are said to be daily disencumbered.
Mr. WILLIAMS, a late traveller, informs us that
he entered by the Appian 'way, through a nar-
row street of small tombs, beautifully executed
with the names of the deceased, plain and.
lei-
ble. At the gate was a sentry-box, in which tle
skeleton of a soldier was found with a lamp in
hand. The streets are lined with public build-
ings, the painted decorations of which are fresi
and entire. There were several tradesmen's
shops also discovered, such as a baker's, an oil-
man's, au iron-monger's, a wine-shop, with money-
in the till, and a surgeon's house with chirurgical.
instruments. Also, a great theatre, a temple of
justice, an amphitheatre, 220 feet long, various
temples, a barrack for soldiers (the columns of
which are scribbled with their names and jests),
and stocks for prisoners, in on of which a skele-
ton was likewise discovered. The priuncipal
streets are above 16 feet wide ; the subordinatt:
ones from six to ten.

ROMAN SOLDIERS.—LateIy, as some men were
digging brick earth in a field opposite to the west
front of the Roman camp at Caister, near Nor-
wich, they discovered, about live feet in depth,
the remains of two bodies which were, no doubt,
those of Roman soldiers. Nothing was entire of
them except several teeth and a brooch of copper
(now in the possession of Miss Dashwood), ex-
cellently preserved, although they cannot have
been interred less than 1400 years ; the time
when the Romans left this Country entirely,
being A. D. 427.

The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND has lowered
the rents of his agricultural tenants twenty per
cent. This is certainly an effective way to re-
lieve the present pressure on the cultivators of
the land.

M A IILIIO ItOUG 11-S Tr.r.ET.— Important to the
Public in general.—A case of a new complexion
came on to be heard at this Office yesterday, on
an information made by Mr. StOckdale, of Pall
Mall, against Mr. Steinman, a respectable sta-
tioner and news-vender, in Whitcombe-street,
for refusing to sign a receipt for 141. and u,•.:-
wards, and paying sixpence for the said receipt,
as requireriby the 55th of George the Third.
SINGULARLY DARING RORBERY.—Yesterday,
Mr. Hope, the Deputy Clerk of the Peace
for the County of Surre:- while at e:;ding to the
duties of his office in tite Court at the .Sur-
rey Sessions, was robbed of a pocket-book,
containing two cheques for 1501. each, arkd of
other property. It appears that Mr. Hope was
Standing near some people who came to give a
prisoner a good character, at tire time he was rob-
bed, and he strongly _uspected the good pe pie of
having relieved hiru of his property. Upon the
circumstance being communir at .r.l to e Bench,
strict orders were given to the Police Officers to
prevent the admission of all suspicious chAratters
into the body of the Court.
REMOVAL or CONVltT3.—Tuesday, at five
O'clock, about fifty convicts, sente'Rced to trans-
portation for life and fourteen yea. s, «ere re-
moved from Newgate, in the ga)l carala , for
the hulk at. Portsmouth, where a transj:ort is
fitting to convey. them to Botany Bay.

PARLIAMENT,

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 7.

The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes
before four o'clock.
PETITION OF NATHANIEL. BROADHURST.

Mr. JAMES presented a Petition from Natha-
niel Broadhurst, stating, that he was arrested on
4.:f:arge of high treason, which was afterwards
ab.antdoned, dnd he.was tried for a misdemeanor,
anti "sentenced to two years imprisonment in the
where he is-now confined.--:

Mr. BICRNAL thought that this Petition contained such a
case, as it was the- duty of are House to investigate, espe-
cially as no one had pronounced any of its statements to be
false,.accoording to Isis own knowledge.
blr. WYNN.joistified his opinion upon the authority of the
Noble Lord, the Reptereotative for Lancashire, confirmed by
that of the Cimino/set of the Quarter. Soissions of Lancaster.
Mr. HORNBY said., that from his own knowledge the cell's,
in Lancaster-Castle, of which the Petitionercomplained, werre
. peculiarly dry and airy:
• Mi. JAMES asked, upon whit ground the Learni.d Gentle-
man on the thornr nodertook•to call those statements foul and
calumnious, of the foundation .of which he could know
no-
thint'
Serjeant OfsIM..ONV said, that he spoke upon the' re-
presentation of the Noble Lord, and the Honourable Mem-
ber for Pr, .ston.
Mr..I.AM ES declared that he knew some of the StateMents
of the Petitioner to fie true of his own knowledge. For iso-•
stance, a /titer addressed to hitu by the.,Petitioner, inclosing
the Petition before the House, was,detained by the gaoler, a
copy of that•letter only having been forwarded to'hins. •
Mr. LAMBTON asked -his Noble Friend, whether it was
his pritate opiuitio that the Petition before.the House should
Out be allowed to lie Onthe Tahle‘ ? • • • • -
Lord STANLEY replied, that it Kai certainly his intention
to. oppose the printing of this Petition—(Hear, hear ! un the
Ministerial Benches.)
Mr. L Imß-roN obierred, that he conid easily understand
'the motive of those cheers with which` the declatation of hii
NAIe ml was received. But he could not help regarding
it as monstrous doctrine, that a statement of great oppression
from - a prisoner should ilk be laid' on the Table of that
HouSe, because it referred to a gaoler of whose character two
or three of its Members entertained a faVourable impression,
If any puler were chiti-ged 'with inhu.nmity 'by a prisoner,
the charge should, in his view, be- itiVestigottiC in orderto do
justice to the accused hiMself. He had a very good opinion
of the gaoler of the County of which he had the honour to he
a Representative, and yet if such Charges as the present Peti-
tion ctirotaineil were preferred against hint, he weiuld certainly
be ass advocate for the reception and investigat' of -that
complaint, But if a Petition coMplaining of oppression,
especially by a- Prisoner, were' preterite& against the Repre-
sentative of the County; orq tit whole body of the Nlagist rates,
be would cote for the reception of such Petition ; and when a
prisoner coMplained of a gaoler,' and the rules of his prison,
it might ha open that the very Mitgistrates or Members who
declared in his fitiour; were partielto his alledged misc Ons
duct. In this case, -the Petition was from an unfortunate
prisoner; whose charaCter he did not ktiiow or care -shunt.
But he WOuld'say of hith, as Lord Chatham's:l;4'ot IVilkes,
that he neither cared' abour'his private character .or public
principles, lint considering him as an English subject, pos-
sessittg rights` which' the laslVgave him, 'and• the law alone
could takeOway, he would resist any attempt to subject him
to oppression. ' •
. Alter some further Conreriatinn; in which F. Pal-
mer, Calcraft; •Creevey, and Bennet sp'olte 'hit. the Motion;
Messrs.. Lushingtort, Mansfield, ilornby, and W. Bootle,
against it, the House divided.
Put. the Motion
Against it .
. .
ROMAN, CATHOLICS.
Mr. PLUNKETT btolight in a Bill far removing the 'disa-
bilities under which persons professing the Roman Catholic-
Religion now labour. The Bill was read a Grst time, and'
-ordered to be read a second time, on Friday, the loth of
March. •
Also a gill for regulating the intercourse betiveen persons]
in Holy Orders in the Catholic Church, and the Sew of Itoine.
Mr:WYNNE presented •the'Report of the Cithirnittee for
inquiring into the Rules fur Regulating the Orders of the.
Day.
Mr. RICE presented a Petition from Thomas Prendergast,:
Esq: Cursiton- of thi'Coutt of Chineery in Ireland, 'against
the Irish Court of Chancery Bill; as fat as it related to the
°dice of Cursitur.—Ordele4 to_be printed. •
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
filr. CURWEN presented a Pet itioth from Wallington, com
!darning of Agricultural Distress.—Ordm et! to he printed:
Mr. CURTElS•presented a l'etition' from-the-Proprietors of
10,000 Acres of .Land, near Cm:Wield and Horsham, to the
same effect.-LOrdered to be prioted.
Mr. LOCKHART presented similar Prtitimis from North-
amptonshire and the Neighbourhood of Peterlueuugh.—Or-
derrd to he printed.
Mr. WESTERN presented a Petition to the same - effect,
from the Hundred of Dengle;-in Essex.' • •
Mr. HOLM E SUMNER. postponed Isis motion relative to
the Orphans' Fur d to this they fortnight.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
Mr. LAMBTON wished to say a Lett words telatire to his
'twice of a motion for Pat liamentary Reform. It was his de,
cided intention to bring it forward on the 10111 of April. The
measure tie•shOuld then propose would he the 'Sante which he
h d at first declared, namely, "The extension of the elective
franchise to all householders rated at the anneal sum of 101.
'I he disfranchisement of all venal and decayed boroughs, and
a return to triennial Parliaments."
DAVISON'S PETITION.
Mr. HOBHOUSE presented a Petition from certain inha-
bitants of the Cities of London anti Westminster. signed by
upwards of 1000 names. The Petitioners• .complained, that
the Petition of Thomas Davison, which mat presented to the
House a short time ago, had not been read sir received by
the House. They stated, that they underitood a Committee
to be always sitting upon the administration of justice, and
they prayed that the aforesaid Petition might be referred to
that Cominittee: They further stated theirhlief, that, by
refusing to comply wills their prayer the House wouldlessen
whatever importance it might still' have in the eyes of the
country. • The Host. Member said, that as the Petition cote 7
taineol no reflection upon theecharacter of any individnals, he
hoped no Hon. Gentleman would get rip to oppose it on that.
Igroond. Ile contended that this was the proper tribunal be•
fore which cases similar to thepresent ought to be brought. Ile
kneW that other tribunals were open, lout, as Mr. Horne Tooke
said, so was the London 'Tavern. Otte Cotirts • of LaW were
like a sign post of which he had heard, I tine out a road,but
saying," all who cat' pay, may pass this war." The lion. Gent.
then repeated his opinion, that ajudge might mit to possess the
arbitrary power of calling what he pleased contempt of Court.
He knew that it was said—would you have no Means of stop-
?hog the torrent of blasphemy. or any other mischief which a
Mau on hid defence may he disposed to utter ? But to that'
he would answer, there certainly were means. In proof of
which, he would take the liberty of quoting- what was said
be the Attorney General upOn the alai of Carlile. It ran
thus : "The defendant's object is to give cut reney to these
calumnies against the Christian Religion. But I beg to state
that those calumnies cannot be reiterated elsewhere; and I,
shall feel it my duty to take immediate meitvires against any
who shall become the publishers of this defence." Now this

IfccoMplained' of the following, among other
4-i:es-awes :—That he' was confined for seventeen
Otit siaf'twenty-four • hours, in a solitary 'damp
(1631.1-eou, with a Stone door, and Which 'never had
a.fi?ein it=-he was prevented from seeing the
ne,w,papersthat- all letters -to and from him
weroperted by the gaoler, and some of theth
wi-filieltland that having been educated in
I%ditlarian • prineiples, a friend sent' him three
numbers-of a theOlogiCal work, written on those
principles, Which had been withheld from him.-.--
Thsa-e_ one day one
.of the keepers 'came to him,
without any cause, to remove 'him into closer
con.fin'ement, in a part of the prison called
" Vie- Ditch ;" that upon his remonstrating,
h? was struck and knocked down a flight of
!,f*;)s, and that- the - turnkeys" then violently
seized 'him, and forced a pair of fetters on
I,il leg• which injured- his ancles, and.
obliged him to send for the surgeon, who
ordered the fetters to be changed and that
he stifiered under this torture for sixteen days ;

and that he was stinted of his allowance because

he refused to work-H-.notwithstanding that foriu-
ing no part:of the sentence passed on him—by

the rules of the priscat,,lishich allowed only one
pound of bread a-day- 14-prisoners who did not
work. The Hon. Member proceeded to observe,
that us faras he could learn, the Petitioner had re-
ceived this treatment from the Magistrates and
the keepers of the Castle, because he was what
Mr. Pitt once professed to be, and what Lord

Castlereagh . appeared to have been up to thn

u.iorrient Of: his entrance into.office—a, Reformer.
-(Bear, hear '.)—Be that as it might, it was
highly improper, it. was unjust, it was illegal for
any gaoler to open the letters, and pry into the
private - correspondence of his prisoners.. The
Magistrates he would contend, could have no
power to make. an order., for that purpose; it
would-be unjust and improper even in the Legis-
lafdre to pass_an.A.-Ct vesting such powers in any
person. That it was, however, exercised by the.
gaoler in this instance, he could assert of his own
knowledge, for he.opened a.letter of his,, which
was
.sent to the prisoner, marked " private ;" and
the Petition, which the prisoner sent to him had
lasci been opened by that person, as well as the
letter of the prisoner Accompanying it.
Mr. 11O1tNBY, as one of the visiting Magistrates at the
prissin altuded to, felt himself called upon'to say aim words
upon the subject of. this Petition. But first, he thought it
due, to himself to state, that he was not ont,of the Magis-
trates who approved of the unfortunate transactions at Man-
chester, having, indeed., finite a'contrary impression. With
.respect To the Petition it, was right tostate,t hat the rules com-
plained of •by the Petitioner, were sanctioned by two of the
.Judges. Ile himself was one of those who. disapproved of
. the rule excluding all newspapers from the prisoners; but he.
wpis_ opposed by the majority of the Magistrates, whose (led;
s;.)u was approved by that humane constitutional Judge, Mr.
Justice ,Bailey. Agaiuit that rule, therefore, he, although
Chairman of the Sessions. felt &his duty to make no objec-
tion. As. to _the, Petitioner's complaint about the rule with
regard to wink, he was prepared to maintain, that reform,he-
iris one of the malt-objects of imprisonmeUt, it was better
t+itb that vie:iv to ewploy prisoners in some branch of indus.
try, than- to allow them to spend their time in listless illaC•
ti, it!, and yet nu piisoners were compelled to work in this
prison• but such as received the county allowance. The re-
stri.:tions as,tocommunication by letter he thought necessary
for. the purpose of securing the safe ctistody of prisoners, by
guarding against any contrivances out of doOrs to prOmote
the escape. But with regard.to the character of the Gaoler
t his, prison, hr could declare from personal knowledge that
he was a most humane and firm man, whose removal from his
sitolstion would be a set ions grievance, even to the prisoners
:

. . . _
Here the Petition was hronght up and read Itv the Clerk.
1.tp70 Site motion that it should the table,
Lord STANLEY said, that Lie felt it unnecessary to add
snaol to what had been urged by the Chairman of the Quar-
tci 'Sessions at L'ancaster (Mr. Hornby)•. But yet he thought
it right to say that he never saw any thing wrong in the con-
duct of the Gaoler of Lancaster Castle. This was the third
time %baton:fleet...had-been complained of in that House. The
first complaint was contained in a Petition,Which *as refer-
red to a Committee, and front the inquiry that' followed, it
:appeared that there were some trifling faultS intim conduct of
;Lei -priaop„ none of which, however, were attributable to the
GapOr hinr,elf. An individual now came forward to reflect
asison.this Gaoler, but it became the House to consider whether
it• wHnld make itself 'a party to such reflections by rattling
iniathe present Petition; tome of the statements in which
isere'false, vetite:others were garbled. The Petitioner was
rerrioYed froth'4lLe place where he was originally confined,
at- the request of his own fellow prisoners, and the scia-
tic with the Turnkey was iu consequence of Petitioner's re-
sislatice to t bat removal. lie was, be declared, as unwilling-
rs6.nny man to prevent prtititiiis front being received, but
coosafering the present petition as a libel upon the Magis•
Crates as well as upon the Gaoler,'he would resist the motion
fur tayinK it i,rt flit- Table, lest it should br printed.
. '4r. H, SUMNER stated, be was one of the Committee to
whom a f.,riner Petition complaining of the misconduct of
this Gaoler was referred, anti be recollected that the highest •
testimonies were on that occasion borne to the character of
thjs's4ficer. The Hotionrable Nlernher suggested, that if the
Petition were-at all laid on the Table, it would be printed in
the 4ournals without any special order fromi he House.
5 7AWTHORS;E spoke in.favour of the Goalkribut
we cunid not distinctly hear hint.
.Sirlkt. WILSON took occasion to ask his Noble Friend whe-
th,r fie kOew what be stated, to be true, from his own per-
Gourd. knowledge or if not, from what source he-derived his
illorTation ? The Gallant, officer deptecated the idea of
reje cilo4 of th s nature in so thin a Huh", the
I+.4i/iiiti'ers' then present living nut more than 90, while there
syr.celifttly'(lo.o e who ought to be made acquainted with
such a petillop.
Ll,rd STANLEY replied to is Gallant Friend,l,hat he did
not know of his own knowledge what he had stated to the
!louse, but. that. be knew it from seeing a written statement
'upon the subject from the Surgeon of,theprison.
" Mr-Serjearit ONSLOW declared, that after the statements
wbitb the House had heard from local Magistrates with re-
;wet to the conduct and character of the Gaoler alluded to,
thp. statement of the petitioner must by deemed a foul and
inh ealuiony, whith ought not to be circulated with the
sauctriniim hat House. -

fir Hr. WILSON observed, find testimonies equally high, and
even afore contirlent, had Geer ,horse in that House to the
conduct and character of Governor :kris, who waS still indis-
putably prored, to the conviction of all parties, to be a con-
firmed .knave and tyrant,

I-101111613A said, that be linew something mif this Mr.
Higgins, the Gaoler. for sour !hue ago, a petition was trans-
witted. to hint.to be. presented, to that Howse. from seven or
eight prisoners, who complained of his misconduct ; but after
lie received this petition; some of the parties by whom it was
signed wrote to him not to present it, bet-wise, as they stated,
,sotnerliftlie County, Magistrates had rectified the matterscom-
plainest of. t'rw-o this circumstance it appeared, that' this
Gaoler Was not-deserving of the unqualified panegyric which
lie !sad received from certain Members, as he had been guilty
of (ablts which the County Magistrates found it necessary
to co, rect, and from that. circumstance also it might be
inferred, that it was possible this Gaoler might commit
oibej -fgalls. . .

Mr. LOCK!' ART deprecated the doctrine of the Minour-
f',:e Member fixr Surrey, that that House, by receiving a corn-
plaint of oppression from any Petitioner, made itself 1 party
to lust coutplaiat, it Eru the charges ;licit it imputed, for,

proved that there were means to prevent the dissemination of
Whatever bright be spoken by a defendant in Court ; that a
man tinder- such circumstances should he exposed to the'
exercise of such. a . power was against all reason and hu
inanity. chey ought rather to throw a shield over him, so
as to give him the 'confidence of being at perfect liberty.—
The Hon. Member referred to a late case at the Surrey Ses—
sions, wherein Mr. Harrison, he stated, who acted as Chair-
man of the 'tench of-Magistrates, said to a person before thv
Cotirt, " Sit doivti,' or utie you." With respect to whi,t
was called failitical libel, it was observable that the defence
generally aggravated the charge. This was shown very
strongly upon the late trial of Mr. Hunt, the prOprietor
of the Examiner Newspaper. That Gentleman Was charged
with
_publishing a Ebel upon the House of Commons.—
He made a deteuct, in which he described the House
as a corrupt House,- in terms much stronger than those
contained in the Paper under prosecution; but. even in
that case the Judge did not fine the' defendant fur aggravat-
ing the Original chai-ge. It was to be reinembered also, that
there was always a Moral restraint upon conduct like that of
the 'defendant's in goestion; fur they were invariably con-
victed, so that this summary punishment for cunt mpt was ob

jectionable, even upon the score of necessity. With respect to
the observation that the Judges had decided the legality of
Davison's case, he (Mr. H.) was not disposed to give much
weight to that circumstance; for it should be recollected,that
the Judges were deciJing their own power. But it Might hr
said, " Will rot set up -your opinion against that of Chief
Justice Alitn,tt ?" CertiOnly he would set up his own opinion
against I o,mo.lodge Alibutts, if he thotight they wet e wrong.
The opinions of ;fridges were nut gospel, and there was too
much reason in some cases to doubt tbeiropinions. Lord Ellen,
borough had actually laid down, that that Paper was a libel
whirl, hurt the fe.elingS of his Majesty's Ministers; and lately
he himself heard it said in the Court of King's Bench, that it
was not_ certain that the mere writing of a libel,wat not a

crime, even though pulilicity Were not Kiser to it. In his osvn
case tun (if the tiouse would perniit him to refer to it), be
heti; d .Mr.Justiee Rest say, that the Writ of Haheas Corpus
was not demand:o.le as a matter of right, and in atppott Ut
/111 i CIUCtiiIIC tl:e Learned Judge quoted Blackstone," When

from the admission of %nth dottrinc, another proposition he (Mr. H.) got Iron). (lie.wOuld not say where that hume
would naturally follow, that if the House received the coin- was), he consulted Ittack4one, and. found that the case re-
plaint, and iustitutrd an inquiry upon the subject) the ease fey red to by the Learned Judge, in support sit his doe-
would be referred tska pat tial tribunal. The Learned Gent. trine, was the case of three Spanish prisoners of war,
concluded with stating, that lie would he an advocate" for.the who applied for the Welt of Habeas Cot pus, and wiry
reteption of any Petition couched in decorous language, at!; refused it ; becanse bring alien eneiniest they were
though, if it contained any Oily.; like ealinnoty,,he wouls4 nut, not entitled to the rights of Englishmen : ru that the
,
agree to have it printed by order of the Home. passage led to an inference direttty• opposite to that
Mr. C. W. ‘VYNN deelarcd'that ho could not seethe pro-' which bad been • drawn by the Learned Judge. :On
pritty of allowing a Petition to lie on the Table, which the late discussion, too, of Davison's case its that House,
was pronuunerd, by good authority, to contain false stair- the Learned Solicitor-General troid that all the cases stunt-
ments. _ _ _ by.him bad hero sowed on the,argument of

Davison's case in the Court of King's Bench; whereas, ii,
tact, with one solitary exception, tome of those cases were
,quoted its that argument. Ile. merely stated these _circuits-
'stances to sliew that Judges and other Lawyers were fallible,
like other men. In bringing forward subjects like the pre-
sent; he cared not what !moires were attributed to him. •Much•
might be said by. Hon. Gentlemen opposite about our ancient
Institutions but he-would tell them that be respected those
Institution's as strongly as they. But it was 'Certain that we
hatl imlifical Lawyers,-who by passing through the rat-trap of
the Justiceship of Chester, were advanced to the Bench, and
because political Judges. They defetoled the jolts
of the day; hirit was -natural to remember one's Creator.
He admitted that it was homan nature; but in watching the
administration of the Laws; it-was proper to take this nature
into account. It was very true, that we could not go to .a
Judge, arid offer bins five guineas, as -we. ought- its Florence:
but we had instances of political cooduct.in Judges much too
strong for us to shot our eyes antainst. The Honourable
Member concluded by moving " That the Petition should be
brot4 lit up."
Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW said, that as the, House would be
occupied pun a subject of the very 'fitst itopto tatter, of-which
(hie notice had been given, he should speak upon the present
question very shortly,- although. the -Hon. Mover had takers a
wide field of observation. He appeared to thick himself able
to teach the Judges law, antqpia haps wontd begin to teach the
Bishops religion. . The case of Darison;th, foundation of the-
present Petition, had been very I'l'll4l4,mile arg first the Court
of King's Ilench' and the power ear:else-it by the consinittito,
Judge had been decided to have 'been pr.-perly exercised. It
therefore was but proper its the House 'to reject. Davison's
Petition, which attempted to torts that.Hou-e into a Court
of Appeal, 'especially as the Learned Judge untitled to had to
proceed upon the Northern Circuit ; and the reception of the
Petition by that 'House would have created an unfavourable
impression against him. He had not looked into the .direct
Ant horilies on this subject, but he never understood the right
complained of to he ever qm•stioned. The circumstance of
there being no recorded instance of the -exercise .of such a
power was-not conclusive , for such an instance wooltTpro
lushly not appear in the Reporis unless- the tight were ques-
tioned. -In the case of Stone, who was.tried for. high treason,
and acquitted, a roan was fitted for making a disturbance iu
the Court. If every blasphemer wire permitted, as in the
case of Davison, to disseminate his: ',Oniony in a Court of
Jostice, front whence they would find their way into the .pub
lie prints, a prosecution of the Newspapers giving publicity
' to those opinions would call for the usual imusber of eulo
gloms on Ilse public press. With respect to the-prayer of-the
petition, he should only observe, that it wasnot usual torefer
such a petition to the Committee, unless it was intended to'
convey a censure upon the Judges.
Mr. WYNNl..:thou4lit.that as the Petition coMplained alert-
ly of the state of the Law, there could he no objection to
hearing it; and if it contained merely a respectful complaint,
it might be received.' • He was sorry the Hon. Member had
made a speech-full of charges against • the .Judges.and other
individuals who had 11U means of defending themselves.—
(Hear, hear!)
Mr. HOBFIOUSE,said; the only expression in the Petition
which might be called-exeeptionable .was-t 100, The Petitioners
stated that they had heard the decision of the House," oit It
regret." He trusted no objection would he taken to su.:ll
expression, which.. Was very natural.: The Petition was then
brought up and read. Itststrd the regret "(the Petitioners at
the rejection of Davison's Petition, especially as the subject
was of great importance. They thought the power in ques-
tion ought not to be entrusted:to a -single Judge. .They re-.
grated especially, that this Petitiou had been rejected„ in-
asmuch as they had beard that- the Htinourable -Nlemiter
who -presented it said it contained no language. disgrace.
fail to the House.. They feared .that if an opinion
.went
abroad that the House was disinclined to receive the Pe ••
titioris of the People. it would lose that portion of the
importance• which it still-retained and t bey cvnel Udell by
expressing their disinelinaf .to take op the•time. of the.
Hotise by unnecessary observations, seeing that that tinat:'
'was occupied ins providing ways and means for the payment of
a Standing Army of 92,000 turn its time.of peace, and the pay-v
ment of Pensioners arid Officers of the. Crown. ~ •
Upon the question "That the Petition do lie on the table,"
Mr.--1408HOLISE and Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW Mutually
explained.
Mr. WYNNE said, that the Petition be imagined could not,
he reerived;as it remarked upon the debates of the House.
It spike-of the pledge given by the fun. Member for Notting-
ham, that the Petition contained no disrespectful language.
He wished on this. subject to he in ;mused by the Chair..
The SPEAKER said; that undoubtedly cases had occurred
of the rejection of Petitions which contained remarks open'
the debates of that House.
Mr. I4OBHOUSE then said, that he should of course yield
to the authority bf the Chair, and beg to wit hdraw t Pet it itor,
-that another might he presented without the ,objectionahle
passage. He wished to know whether the objection was
tnetely formal. .
The SPEAKER observed. he could• only say, that the Peti-
tion was inadmissible, because it coutrueot ea on the debates
of the tionse.
Mr. DENMAN said, that before the present Petition should
, be withdrawn, be begged to offer. a very.few words.. Had tlie
House received Davison's .Petition, it would not have been
troubled with the present. The rejection of a Petition nrs.,
read was -unprecedented, 'supposing the Petition to contain
matter for proper intet ference, out the part of Abe House.
He thought that House the potter :place for inquiring into
the conduct of the Judges, and he trusted another Petition
would be presented.
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that if the Petition of Davison
was a proper one for the consideration of the House, it was
the fault of the Hon. and Learned Member who presented it,
that it had nut beets received. He (Lord C.) understood it
to complain of the conduct of a Judge, and not tube the basis
of a remedial law. If that; or any other petition, wire fur
art alteration of the law as administered, he would strain a
point to receive it, in order that the. question might be raised.
Mr. DENMAN and Mr. WYNNE explained.
Mr. SCARLETT said that the House was the only tribunal
to which Davison--could possibly apply for realest. No ap-
peal lay to any of the Courts of Lass' its. respect of
.a commit-
ment for contempt ; and if there-fore Davison 'could riot
tails redrew-from the House, be could not obtain it at all.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL contended that the case of
Davison bad been- fully examined by the Court of King's
Belle') upon a motion for -a new trial.
•Mr.SCARLETT explained. The Petition was then with-
drawn.
A motion for the considerations of the Claims of the Ame-
rican Loyalists was postponed.
• -AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. Gooch rose, in pursuance of his motion,
to bring forward his motion for a Select Com-
mittee, to inquire into the -present distressed state

of the agricuiturai.interest, with a view of aster-
taining .whether, any ~or what relief could . be,
granted. He hoped, should the motion be:ac-
ceded to, that Hon. Members would go into
,the.
.Corntaittee.unfettered by any restrictions. It was
always with. very great diffidence, and .eves with
pain, that ,he obtruded himself on the. House ;
yet, on the 'present occasion, he felt himself
called upon by an imperative sense of duty tO,the
country at large, no less than to that class for
whom he appeared .as the humble advocate.--
(Hear, hear !)—Yet he could not help wishing
that duty had devolved upon more able hands.—
The preSent question was not one of party, it
disclaimed all party feelings ; and he was very
happy to perceiye that there was a disposition on
both .sides of the House, to treat it upon the

broad principle of its own merits, And here he
could not forbear expressing his hope that an
Hon. Member op,posite, distinguished for his
profound knowledge of political economy (Mr.
Ricardo, we presume) would suffer the, question
to go to the Committee without imputing any
motives to those who supported it,
.hostile to the
interests of particular classes. For himself he
considered the agricultural and commercial in-
terests so interwoven and blended with each other

that they «•ere inseparable. It was quite im-
poisible that one could exist without the co-
existence of the •other. Rut at the same time
he must say that he consideeed' agricultur'e ,the

basis of the whole waalth of the empire—it was
upon that that the ,superstructure of our na-
tional prosperity must-be raised.—(Hear, hear !)
If ever there was a time when distress prevail-
ed among the farmers,- and called loudly for re-
lief, it was the present. No less than 100,000
petitioners had come before the House to make
their appeal ; and he would say of the petitions,
.that_lhey.had not. like others- been got up by -ar-
tifice and undue expedients, but had been freely
,signed by men who formed what he would call
, the very heart's blood of the nation, the Yeomanry,
a body of -people whose
,proper demeanour and
loyalty had at all times, been most conspicuous. lie
would say that if the greatest enemY,of the country
would wish it to be inflicted with the greatest
curse that could fall upon it, he could not desire
a heavier one. than that the petitions of so truly
valuable a part of our fellow citizens should go
unnoticed anii neglected by .the house. An
-opinion- was-advanced by a right lion. Gentleman
whose judgment he respected,_that the distress
of theAgricultUrists was owing, in a great measure,
to the superabundant crops of last year, Which
brought a glut of- Corn-into the market. To this
opinion,.,however;.he'Ol'i...G.) could: not accede.
He could state iron; hiS own knowledge,that.in
Carribridgesliire Stirolk, Norfolk, and Essex, the
part of the country; with which he was best ac-
quainted, that the crop of corn was very deficient.
lie was, ready, to admit that there had been a
superabundant .crop of, barley, and. hence there
was an increased consumption of malt. Some:
further relief was necessary to the landholder, and
that speedily, if it was intended to ,save the
country from absolute ruin.—(Hear hear.)— From
the Corn Laws as
.they now existed he could ex-
pect no remedy; Some how or other their machinery
did not- work. well. The warehmiSing system he
particularly objected to. Those who we' re not
practical farmerS (and he: could not say that he
was one to any great degree), were not aware of
thebardshiPs and difficulties which fartnersex-
perienced. lie could not avoid behig deeply
impressed with a sense. of what they suffered,
when he saw them endeavouring to keep poor
labourers, in . eniployment rather than throw
them an the parish, though the means they had
for 'doing so were nearly quite exhausted. It
usually happened, that there were in the ware,
houses about 500,000 quarters of grain, and when
the corn Was it the remunerating priCe, the cOn-
sequetiCe was, that thernarket being thrown open,
the farther rushed into it at Once and caused a
glut, which brought down wheat to 50s, and 60s.
a price-so low that Jilin must necessarily ensue,
lie would only ask fdr the agriculturists that
protection, fo
,whiCh they were so well en-
titled, from the value they Were of to the
State. The lion. Member then read certain
items, Showiiig, dill the proportion of the Pro-
perty. Tax paid by the agriculturists had - been
.6,473,4751. annually, While the proportion paid
by the tradinvand commercial interests had
been only 2,000,0001. Land, as .contrasted with
othe'r"Propeety, paid to -the revenue in the pro-
portion of three to one. He would again say
that something. must be done, unless We 'Were to
be Teducedio What .11nonaParte called a nation of
shopkeepers. It was very clear, that- things,
could •notgo on in their present-state. lie hoped'
the House would not blink the question, but
'would take it .np,itt the Manner which its great
_
importance required. It was not for him to:say
What remedy would be best, but the country was
.not in so bad a state but some remedy:might be
devised. The Hon, Member concluded, by
moving that the several "petitions presented to
this, iouse complaining, Of agriCtiltural distress,
be referred to a Select "Committee, with instruc-1
tiOns to report thereon.

Sir EDWARD Ic..sATchauct., in seconding the
motion, observed; that no blame could be attri-
buted. to the Ministers of the Crown, far every
.Petitien forwarded to them had met every con-
sideration. ReferriiK to the supposed jealousy
of :the 'Mercantile...interest upon the present
question, the lion. Baronet stated, that all that
the Petitioners asked was an ' inquiry., • So 'great
Was the diStress of-this. branch of society, that the
POor Rates
,were frightful in amount, and -there
appeared a 'general, predisposition to .pauperisth.
This diAress was felt even by the tradesmen of
the metropolis, for they could not obtain pay-
ment of their bills. The :Principal complaint
was' the pre-sent mode of taking averages, whirl'
were, So - taken that *a "nornitial was returned in-
stead of a sUbStantial amount of the prices. He
would state an insfance of 'distress within his
own knowledge, which would shew that the dis-
treSs was not .exaggerated. En . five parishes
within one district, no less thin 3000 acres of land
had been given up in very short Space- of
time, so that whatever might be the difference
of opinion as to the cause, the distress itself, he
believed' could not be - denied. Great, indeed,
had been the diversity of opinion as to that cause,
and his own opinion should therefore be offered
with diffidence. He thotight it not attributable
to the resumption of Cash Payments, but to' an
,excess of production co-operating with large im-
portations of foreign corn. After* some other
Observations to the same 'effeCt, the Hon.' BarOnet
entreated the House not to suffer itself to .be
drawn into a protracted discussion as to the
cause of the distress, but rather- apply itself to
finding a remedy. ',upoij that subject it.certainly
was not for the Petitioners to speak with confi-
dence, though they might not improperly state
their own views. With respect to the motion of
the Right Hon. the Chancellor Of the Exchequer
for expediting the return to Cash Payments, lie
should only obseive, that although he thought
.we ought not to retrace our steps 'oh that subject,
a reduction. of eipence might be made with the
most .beneficial effects. The Honourable Ba-
ronet went on to state, that whatever diS-
cussion might 'arise- upon this question, he
hoped it would conducted. With— that
temper and candour which could alone
sure adequate justice being done to- it in that
House.' This was the only spirit• in which it
could be conducted likely to be beneficial to the
country.. With regard to the point of taxation, he.
certainly thought it' ought to be open to the con-
sideration of the Cemmittee; On 'the subject of
-the Corn Laws' he' begged to gate, that he did
not think the present spterri with-regard to theM

ought to be changed. lie trusted that whatever'
views might be entertained by the Committee or
by the House on the subject of the distresses of
the country, that they would not take any steps
either from notions of justice or expediency, in
violation of the public faith. Whatever means
of restoration the Committee might think fit to
recommend, he hoped they would steer clear of
this. If the country was involved in difficulties,
on the part of the Agriculturists he was prepared
to state that they were willing and ready to bear
their share of the burdens of the State ; but they
were not contented to bear them exclusively.—
(Hear !)—He could not help adverting to some
observations- promulgated out of the House, but
which he had heard repeated and advocated
within those walls relative to the National Di bt.
It had been stated that the landed property of
England Was. o mort,ragemortgaged`for the National Debt.
From this statement he most- beg to express his
entire dissent. That the property of the country
might be involved in the payment of the National
Debt, he was willing to allow. It was also stated,
from the same source, that a large proportion of
the poor lands were thrown out of cultivation by
the present system. Ile admitted that by the
present system, the Poor Lands were, as matte-r
of course, thrown out of cultivation ; but Iti.3
opinion was, that the rich lands were also thrown
out of cultivation. It had been said, that the
abandonment of the tax upon agricultural horses
would be a good measure of rc lief. lie did riot
agree in this opinion, and he was sure, from the
opinions the subject he had collected, that the
farmers in general did not con Sider that tax as a
grieVance. Froth the same source to which rp_r
had before adverted, it was advocated that some
fixed protecting duties-should be placed .upon
foreign Corn. In the first place, he deprecated
the indiscreet zeal of those who advocated, lhiz
opinion, and in the seeond, lie held an opinion
decidedly opposite. lle thought nothing could
be more injurious to the country than a positHe
fixed duty upon Corn. In allusion to a Bill fOr
regulating tire averages, in which it was propoied
to include the Irish Corn, he thought that if
proviAons could be carried into effect, it would
he an essential point gained in favour of the far-
mer.; but he did riot think that that alone woleht
be sufficient relief. With respect to the Corn Law
tie should prOpOse a small addition to the average
price of Oats—and that was the only alteration
he should propose .to make to the law of 1515.
'He Would propose that, a graduated scale of
Duties upon Foreign Corn should he esta-
blished, varying in proportion to the prices of
'British Corn. These were all the propositions
he had to make on the subject of Corn. In ask-
ing for the Comtnittee, the House would recol-
lect that the* iv'ere asking it on of a class
of indiViditais which, freim their sufferings, an.d
their exemplary conduct 'under those suffer:rigs,
.were most deserving of their attention and cart, ;
and, at the same, time, that the state of Up.:
country was such as required the hest exertion 4
-uf-the Committee. He was sore that the Britisit
Parliament -would not fail to give the Petitioners
l'that attention wh.ch their wants required, and
convince them that they -did 'not look -to that
House for relief in vain. The lion. Baronet,Who
delivered himself in so low a tone of voice,,as ZP
make many of his observations inaudibl*
in the Gallery, -concluded by paying a b:i4is
compliment to the Agricultural Classes in genera?,
for their exemplary conduct under their distresses,
and seconded the motion.
Mr. F. Itorttssos obseived,-that the situatconi
in which he was placed, not only with referemfe
to the department 'which he had the ho-
nour fill, but from the manner in which he
had heretofore been connected with the question"
now before the House, would' plead - his excuse-
for offering himself to its attention at this earl!
period of the debate. When this topic was in-
troduced last year by the Hoa. Member for Surrey
(Mr. H. Sumner), he had stated the grounds ors
which he then thought it expedient to comply
with the proposition. He objected to the propv-
shian because, whatever was the distress that
existed-, or was alleged 'to existi he did' not thin 1
it, attributable to the-defect of the law ; and he
likewise held,upon general-principles, that wit hotrt
some distinct view of the'evil, and some specific
remedy to bring forward, it would be trucri'se
interfere with-'the 'subject. If it were said that on,
jections like these might be 'urged -at all times,
he must reply that the question here affected
the interests not only of large classes, but of the
whole community, and (tat considerations
feeling as well hs policy (algid to be admitted into
all inquiries of this kind. What might upon en-
larged views of general policy be advisable at o:: e
moment, might at andthar, under peculiar cir-
cumstances, deserve' no 'countenance at
(Hear.)—lt•Wbuld be strange, however, if al' Y'
man should hear the itatements of distress Ns"b,icac
had been made—statements not perhaps strictly
correct, and to the uniVerSality of which ire must
object=-but still he must say that the man who
could listen to them, and remain insensible, must
have a mind strangely composed—(Hear.) —The
Petitioners had, he believed, seen tim force of

these objections, and had been reconciled to th,,-
expediency of postponing the consideration-et
the subject. In agreeing to the present motion,
for a Committee, although he was pursuing. A
course inconsistent with that which he had before
adopted, he did not conceive that he was sub-
jecting himself to repreach, or doing that for
which he need feel any shame.—(Hear, hear,
hear.)—With regard, then, to the objects to
which the attention of the Committee ought to
be directed, he had no wish to restrain it froo
any financial inquiries, and he had the satisfac-
tion to find, from the speeches of his two lion-
Friends, that with reference to two subjects
which had been antecedently discussed,Ft was not
proposed to advert to them, and that neither
was it in contemplation to disturb the laws rela-
tive to our currency, or to look for relief through
the medium of any operation on the public debt.
On the subject, then, of taxation, as he had al-
ready intimated, he did not object to this being
brought within the scope of the intended inquiry.
Before the Committee decided, however, that the
'principal or the only relief-was to be derived from
this Source, he hoped they would consider how far
this decision might affect public credit. They would