The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-20 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

A Petition was presented by Mr. P. MOORE from the Pro-
prietors of Drury-lane Theatre, stating that they were under
certain incumbrances, and praying for leave for a Bill to
enable them to give securities for detukands ujon
Ordered to lie on the table.
COPY-RIGHT.

A Petition, presented by Mr. FINLAY, from GlasgoWUni-,
versity, against the Copy-right Bill, was received.
A Petition, presented by Mr. FINLAY, from Manufacturers
-in Glasgow, against additional Duties on Cotton-Wool, *ts
received.

BANK RESTRICTION BILL.
On, the question of the 3d reading of t!!e Bank
Rest' iction Bill, Mr. fINLAY said his opinion;
was, tbat by. adopting this measnr,e.w were now'
placing the circulating medium in a state front

which it could never recover. was aware that
the resumption of cash payments would be attend-
,cd with pressure and difficulty ; but it .would be
better to suffer temporary pressure than to suffer
an evil to go on till we were utterly unable to'
'• look it in the face ; the difficulty, he was con-
vinced, would he increased by every delay. The:
Chancellor of the Exchequer had, better state:, the
plain 'fact at once, than thus amuse us ft ont•titne.
to thin' with the farce of intended resumption of
cash payments by the Bank.
Mr. HAMMERSLEY was surprised at the last de=
cla'raiion of the Hon. Gentleman, when it was
well known that the Bank had 'Foaled treasure
for resuming cash payments : .believed ti.a!
Bank were 4inxious to do so, and that they would
do sa at no very di,t4orperiod:
Air; IFENRy wished to put a question respect-
= -ing the 9,009,0001. which bad formerly been ad-
vanced ny.the Bank ; .3,000,000k_ of which had
been adysoced without interest, and 6,000,9001,
et four per: cent.—NoW at the.coinnlencetnent of
the ,Session it was stared, that 6,000,0001. was to
be pail in cash during the present year, and was
provided for ; and also, that the 3,000',0001. was
wto be discharged. Now it' as important to
know whether: this: 3,000,000 k was provided
for,_because, if it _was not, it was- to beat a
higher interest, afttr the sth of April, than the
6,000,0001.—1 t was also desirable to know wile-
ther,any part of this sum had been paid, and bow
much ;—because, in case any part , was paid, '
the Bank ought to decrease their issue iu,.pro- =
portion. . ,
Mr. LUSHINGTON said,-provision Was Making
for the repayment of not only the 6,000,0001. but
the 3,000.0001. also. The. periods and propor-
tions of payment were still nuttier of considera-
. tion ; though they would undoubtedly be witl.in
. the present year. -
Mr.TIERNEY wished to know what fund the
3,000 0001, was to be paid from, as no .provision
was matte for it?
Mr. H. THORNTON, on the part of the Bank,
assured the Hon.Gtntleman, that the Bank would
adopt every possible step fur promoting the ob-
ject which the House desired; and that they would
reduce their issues as far as possible.
. Mr. TIERNEY was happy to hear that these
sums were to 'he paid off. He did nut pretend to
dictate to the Hotise the exact diminution of cir-

culatiou which shouhl take place, but he thought

some ought. Still his second question as to ihe
3,000,0001. remained unanswered ; and yet, as he
undcrst,,od, the Cotnmittee of Supply was to close
on Friday.
• Mr. LveRINCTO,7 suid a negociation was now
pending ale Bank on this subject ; at pre-
6e:it it would not be prudent to say more. -
Lord FOLKESTONE understood the 3,000,0001.
was advanced without interest by the Bank, in
consideration of the large public balances in their
bands he hoped the Bank would now he called
on to account for these balances. The Noble
Lord repeited his former objections to the mea-
sure, after which the Bill was read a third time
and passed.
Mr. BROUGHAM complained that certain papers
relative to the destruction of documents connected
vvith the Property Tax, at the same period, had
rot Vet been made.
Mr. W. WYNNE thought the Clerks in Public
'Offices ought to be instructed, that when an order
Was made by this House they 't-cre bound imme-,
diarely to obey it ; if they did not, they ought to
be called to the bar to answer for their neglect.
After a few words from Mr. BATHURST and Mr.
13c.ouGnAm, the return was ordered to be made
forth wit h.
THE, DI CITARGE OF MR. FERGUSON.

Lord 11..Jimatt.ToN _moved that Mr. T. Fer-
iu%on should be brought to the bar of the House
to-morrow, in order to his being discharged.
Mr. W. Wvtibrs said, as the House did-not ap-

pear to entertain_ the same opinion of the ennrmity
of this person's crime as he did, he should not
oppoie this motion"; lie did, however, consider
this person's offence as one of the ►leepest dye,
heightened as it Was by gross falsehood ; and was
such a one as re►►dered his return to society al-
most iu►p-roper he Should have wished i►iHm to
continue a few days- longer in confinement ; as a
few days-,,' however, would make no diffetence,
he would not ,move any thing upon the present
occasion. -

"The motion. bras then agreed tn, and the Speaker
directed to issue his Warrant accordingly.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Lord COCHRANE preSlNHed a number of peti-
tions from Paisley, Manchester, Lancaster, Glas-
gow, and other places, praying Cor Parliamentary
Reform, Annual ParliamentS, and Universal Suff-
rage —Ordered to lie or, the table.
Sir R. HarON then rose to bring forward his
motion •on the subject of Reform in Parliament.
The subject, he said, on former occasions had
been so fully discussed, that it wouldroit now be
necessary-for hint to detain the House long. At
One period, the corruption of Elections was so uni-
versally allowed, that it was-considered necessary
to pass the Act, called the Grenville Act, to restrain
that corruption. He was aware of the objections
which were m do to the questioo of Reform, when-
ever it wit's brought.torward. It brought forwatd
'll a time of prosperity, it was said we wattled no
Reforth ; if' brought forward in time of distress,
the danger of attempting innovation it stn is a,
period was' urged Against it. Another argontent
against it was, that no two persons agreed on
any plan of Reform, but that was-no reason why
we should not go into enquiry. Next it was
said,-that the Constitution most not be touched.
because it was perfect ; but it WAS- only pet feet
because it had always heretofore adapted itself to
change 'of' times ; hut the strongest argument
against Reform was the Revolution in France,
and its coi.sequences ; but it was unfair to ar-
gue on the French Revolution, which arose out
of the unbounded extravagance of the Court, %elite',
no Minister con d supply, and which f,iliog to sup..
he couid not keep, his place, and out of the
conduct of the Doke of Orleans. Parliaments
elected every three years 'was the object of his
motion. He was not favourable to annual
Patlia-
ments ; he 'did not Consider they were fitted to
the present tunes, though they had suited the reign
of-a Mary and a Henry.—After the Revolution,
Parlia ;tents were made triennial, and so they con-
tinued down to 1715, When circumstances arose
which -caused the duration ,of Parliament to be
extended to seven years. He recollected the ar-
guments which had taken place on this Subject
it was formerly urged against triennial Parliaments
that the first, year of "a Parliament was almost
wholly occupied in disposing of contested elec-
tions ; bot this could not now occur ; this objec-
tion was
.put an end to by the Grenville Act. The
Septennial Bill was introduced' at a time of insur-
rection, with the avowed intention of strenth-
ening the Crown ; but this was a temporary in-..
surrection, and the measure adopted to meet it
"ought also to have bred temporary. He was con-
vinced of the real fact, that Members were better
irr-The two last years of Parliament than they
were in the tour or five first. The Honourable
Gentleman concluded by moving tar leave to bring
in a Bill to repeal the Septennial Act.
Sir S. ROMILLY fully agreed in the motion of.
his Hon." Friend. He did not wish to lengthen.
this debate, but he must advert to one fact ; he
had heard fears expressed, that Triennial Ptir-
liaments woold increase the influence of the
Crown, which would always
,have an advantage.
in contested--Elections. lie was of opinion the
contrary would be the fact, and that opinion was
fortified by the occurrences of the present reign,'
in which there had been eleven Parliantett6, eight
of which had been allowed by the Crown;to exist
six years each.

• Mr. W. SMITH Was also in favour of the mo-
don ; and be:partienlurly rejoiced in having this
opportunity of declaring his sentiments nn one of
the most flagitious acts of tyranny and injustice
which ever was committed, namely, that of a
Parliament elected for three years deciding that
it would 'exist forseven.

Mr. BROUGHAM could not suffer tbis'observa,
tion of his Hon. Friend to pass without notice,
although he was in favour of the present
motion. He could not silently hear.that Parlia-
ment so harshly designated which had by their
Act saved us from an arbitrary and Popish Go-
vernment. Whether they did well or ill, in al-
lowing the remedy to survive so long the evil, was
another question. By his vote to-night, he should
spew that he thought they did. If, however, the
Act which bad been alluded to by his Hon. Friend.
deserved the character he bad given it, so did se-
veral other great and beneficial Acts which had
since been passed by the Parliaments of England
and Ireland. The Union with Ireland was at an
end. The Union with Scotland was an' illegal
Act. And the same argument would apply to
many other Acts of • Parliament. He concluded
by again declaring, that he could not sit silentiy
and bear such epithets
.applied to a Parliament:
which had saved the Constitution:
The House then divided—
For the Motion
Against it ll7
_..ajorLy
The ATTORNEY-6 RN ERAL obtained leave to
bring in a' Bill to continue an Act of the 52d of
his 'Majesty, for the more effectual preservation of
peace by Watch and Ward.

Mr. 17,0,4.0 also obtained leave to'bring in a BM
for the further regulation of the payment of Prize-
money.

ALIEN BILL.
Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the Committee on
the Alien Bill.

A-Ir.:BENNET was surprised at the hurrying this
measure through the House; and also at the
apathy shewn by dip House to it. It was not the
small number of persons sent out of the country
that was the question of objection to this Bill,t
but the number of those vylib had been prevented.
coming into-it. It was absurd to suppose that
this country stood in any danger from the resi-
dence of a handful of foreigners amongst us. He.
could not heFp•believing that this •wus a tneaSnre,
emanating from the Holy Affiance, II could-b'e'
so called.

ELLisou defended this measure. Ministers

had never been convicted of any cruelty or op-
pression tinder this Bill ; and therefore there was
no,groond of opposition to it.

. Mr..BAThuasT contended that the same rea-
•sons which induced the House to enact this Bill
after, the peace existed now in. as much force as
t hen,and therefore the House ought to continue the
measure. It was only the .set of men who had
been the disturbers of the peace of Europe; and
especially'of France, who were the objects of the
'care and compassion of the Hon. Gentleman.—
Until that race of busy and meddling politicians
were extinct, .it would not be safe to give up this
measure ; because if they did, those men would
flock to this country, and excite a great deal of
dis►urbance. He -asserted that the powers given
by this Bill had been exercised with very little in,
convenietlee to any individuals. They wanted
this measure to prevent the turbulent from com-
ing here ; and that it should be publicly known
that none would be allowed to remain ill this
country except the quiet, the honest, and the in-
dustrious-. - He denied that any one had been sent
ant or prevented from cowing, into this country at
the suggestion of any foreign Minister whatgver-.

Mr. LYTTELTON mentioned the case of a
reivier •ot considerable property, who was sent
out of the country at four tLys' notice.. This per-
son was not acensetiof plotting aaainst this coun-
try. The only reason for this 'Bill was the into-
lerent principles adopted by the British Govern-
ment. This,measore had a very 'bad etiect on the
liner v of this country.

Mr. fiATHURNT sajil, the person alluded to by
tim last Speaker was nut sent Ault of the country
tor plotting against. the Government,.. but for
practices danget °us to the peace of the country.
Sir S. lloutt.Lv' said, it scented not "to be the
intention the lion. Members opposite to dis-
enss the'nted%or,•. Persons -seekurg an asylum in
this land trout the fary of the Inquistuou were
•te.tied in the same aay ; that is to say, were
judged ann, condemned Williont being told the
otitnce.s of which 'they were -charged. The French
Prot estnnts who took- r, logv in this _country from
the tyranny, ut Louis XIV. did not seek protee•
lion troth Charles 11. or JillOtS H. hot they knew
that liberty was then essential to the Conv.itntion of
this cottony. If the Ministers of James 11. had liad
the powers given by this Bill, that Monarch would
not have had his eyes offended by such numbers
of Protestants taking refuge in this kingdow. It
had been said that Ministers had not abused this
power ; but were Ministers such idiots as to abuse
the extension of power acquired by them in their
sys!eni of gradually depriving the people of their
liberties I Those who would vote for this mea-
sure on such grounds would have no objection
that PrOclantations sltoulil have the" force of laws,
provided the power .were not abused.

Mr.; Serjeant COPLRY considered that the power
of rewaining au influx of a number of persons
wbO had been exiled from- France, of atrocious
principles and character, into this country, was
highly necessary. This measure wtis not only ne-
cessary for our own domestic policy, but also- to
take care that this country should not become the
theatre of plots agt,ainstsurrounding Governments,
which, through them, disturb our peace, and in-,
itire our interests. He denied that this measure
was contrary to the Constitution of England, or
that the King had no power to send Aliens out
of this country by the Constitution ; on the con-
trary, the King had a power of apprehending
Aliens, and giving them up•to their own Govern-
ments. He sewed several cases in the reign of
Elizabeth, in. which the Sovereign sent Aliens out
of the country.: This Bill was only introduced in
order to do away with certain difficulties, and f'or
enabling the Crown to exercise this power in a More
'convenient manner than by indictment, as was
formerly the case. He considered the Alien Bill,
therefore, as a mere measure of regulation, and
that it is necessary for our repose and security,
under existing circumstances.

Sir J. INIActNTosn entered his protest against
the doctrines of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman►,
and against the measure he had defended. They
did not deny the ancient power of the Crown over
Aliens, their only object (vas to prevent its ex-
tension. The pi eccdents quoted by the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman were unfortunately drawn
from times -when the MonarchS pail but little at-
tention to the rights of the Constitution. In the
best times of th4Constitution, from the Revolution
downwards,• there was no Proclamation by royal
authority, ordering any Alien out of the country.
He felt great sorrow at the carelessness and gaiety
with which the House treated such subjects, so
vital to the interests of a defenceless set of men.
In former times, it Was our boast and glory to be
despised by tyrants and slaves, because we-did not
possess the power of acting tyrannically. But
now, this Bill was passed to keep the Yellow
Dwarf of the Netherlands, and two other News-
papers, and 36 exiles, from coming into this coun-
try.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contended, that the
prerogative of the Crown to send out Aliens from
the country existed by the common law, and by
vlagna Charta, which says, that merchant fo-
reigners may come into the country, unless
prohibited ; she wing clearly that the King bad
the power of that prohibition. He knew that,
though the King had the power of 'issuing Pro-
clamations, ordering Aliens out of the country, he
had no power to order them to be taken up and sent
out of the country ; he could only indict them
for disobedience to his Proclamation, and so pu-
nish them for that disobedience. He would ven-
ture to say, that out of that House no Lawyer
would controvert this doctrine. This measure
was one of expediency ; and was the House pre-
pared to say that this country should be made
the depot for all - the turbulent and mischievous
spirits of Europe t
A division then took place, when the numbers
were—

Ayes 99 '
Noes 32
Majority —67

The House then went into the Cornmittee,
when Mr. BARHAM moved that the blank respect-
ing the time of the Bill be filled up with one year
instead of two. A division took place on the
priginal question—
Ayes
• Noes
Majority for two year 5....... —66
Mr. J. P. GRANT proposed a clause, (but

which he afterwards withilreri), that it should
be in the power
.of any. Alien who might
receive an order of removal, to specify ,the coon"
try, part, or place, to which he wished to be re'
moved, and that he should be permitted to trans..
port himself in any ship that might be ready to
sail:
Sir S. ROMILLY proposed. thit the Bill 8110°1d
not extend to Aliens resident in this country
January 1814.
This was objected to, as making an alteration
in the 13i11. The Report was then ordered " be
receives to-morrow, when Mr. J. P. Grant and "urr
S. Romilly will propose their clauses.
The other Orders of the Day were then dig:
posed of, and the House adjourned at ball pas-
twelve. '