The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-15 00:00:00

kind of language, that he could not attempt to describe it ; but
he had read it, and finding that it did not contain any offensive
or disrespectful language to the House, he felt it his duty, as the
individual had placed it in his hands, to move that it be
brought up.
The SPEAKER inquired if it was an election petition 9
Lord MILTON said it was an election petition
and it was not an election petition ; but he did not believe it
could he considered as a petition against the return of the Member
for the borough of Athlone.
The petition was then read ; but, in consequence of some in-
formality, stated by the Speaker, it was withdrawn.
Mr. MACQUEEN presented petitions from
Northallerton and Richmond, against any alteration in the Corn
Laws.—Ordered to he printed.
Lord PALI‘IERSTON presented a petition from
the University of Cambridge, against parts of the Cambridge Gaol
Bill, as tending to destroy the beauty of some of the walks and
buildings of that town.
The Petition was then referred to the Committee on the Bill.

Mr. HUME moved, that there be laid before the
Howe, a copy of the Bye-Laws or Rules for the admission of
Proctors to the Ecclesiastical Court of Doctors' Commons ;
stating the datee of those Bye-Laws or Rules, and by what au-
thority they were issued. The Honourable Member stated,
that the present system in that Court was one of monopoly and
exaction. No young man could be articled to one of the Proc-
tors without the payment of a fee of a thousand guineas, besides
the usual duty of a hundred and twenty pounds to the King.
Dr. PHILLIMORE had no objection to the Mo-
tion; but regretted that the Hon. Member had not deferred his
observations, which were very inaccurate, until after the produc-
tion of the document. _

Mr. HUME denied that his obiervationi were in
any respect inaccurate.
After a few words from Dr. PHILLINIORE and Mr. Alder-
man WAITIIMAN, the Motion was agreed to.

Mr. HUME moved that there be laid before the
House a return of the number of licenses granted by the Com-
missioners of hackney coaches, in the Cities of London and West-
minster, to the owners of hackney coache., chariots, and cabrio-
lets ; the numbers to each owner, the dates, &c. He observed
that great partiality and hardship existed in the granting of the

licenses. While many individuals applied in vain for a single
license. there were others who obtained eighteen or twenty.—
There was a wine merchant who had eighteen or twenty of those
licensee, and who made each of the drivers who obtained them
from him give him one pound four shillings a day. The expence
of the Hacki,ey Coach Office was 10,0001. a year, and that to col-
lect a revenue of only 69,0001. By a Committee which eat in
1797, at the head of which was Lord Colchester, the abolition of
this office, and the transfer of the business to the Stamp Office,
had been recommended. As to any complaints of the conduct of
the drivers, they could he more advantageously and promptly be
heard by the Police Magistrates.
Mr. MABFRLY expressed his persulsion, that a
great saving might he effected by the abolition of the Hackney
Coach Office.

The motion was then agreed to.
ARMY RETURNS.

On the Motion of Mr. HUME, the following Re,

turns were ordered to he laid before the }hug,, viz. :—A it_turn
of the Ntunber of Officers who wore in the Army on the first of
January, 1816, distinguishing their rank, and those on half-pay
from those on service. A Return of the Officers on half-pay, who
had made application for employment since January, 1820, and of
the number who had been brought from the half-pay into service
in the same period. A Return of the number of Officers on half-
pay from disbanded foreign corps, on the Ist of January, 18V ;
with the Amount of their Half-pay and Pensions.
BOROUGH OF ATHLONE.
_ _

On the Motion of Mr. 11..A.NDeCCK, the pe-
tition of certain Inhabitants of the Borough of Athlone, complain-
ing of the Forgery of their Signatures to a former petition, was
ordered to be referred to a Select Committee.
The names of the proposed Committee having been mentioned
by the Honourable Mover,
Mr. HUME thought that the Committee consisted
too exclusively of Irish Members—gentlernen who were, pro-
bably, not on the best terms with Aft. Flanagan.
Mr. H.A_NDCOCK observed, that four or five
English Members were on the Committee. He proposed the ad-
dition of Mr. Hume.
Mr. Hume was accordingly added to the Committee.
Adjourned at Half-past Stx o'clock.