The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-13 00:00:00

ALIEN BILL.

On the motion of the-CHANcEt.Lou of the Ex-
CHEQUER., that the Alien Regulation Bill be read
a third time, •
Mr. Hounousv, beggfAl to offer a few observa-
tions against this measure. lle. was really
ashamed to- see the, little -attention-;whichE was
paid by Gentlemen to a measure of such great
importance ;,.a. measure which affeeted the cha-
racter of the .country throughout Europe.
Hon. Member proceeded at considerable. length
in arguing against the passing%of this Bill. Dur-
ing the former discussions, Gentlemen on his
(Mr. 11.'s)- side of the. House had found it impos-•
sible to extract from the Noble Lord (Castle.,
reagh). any reasons why this. 13111 should pass
Into a law. Three reasons, or pretended'reasons,.
had .been given,-,one by the Noble Lord, one by
the Solicitor-General, and one by the Right Ho.
Pourable the... Chancellor of the Duchy of, Lan-
caster.. , The- first was, that though we- were not
engaged-with a foreign enemy, we had internal
danger to struggle against. -The 'second was
a three times three refuted blunder of Black-
and the third was from some equally
inapplicable arguments from Vattel and
Puffendorf. The- Honourable Member,. after
- • I •
a. variety- of observations in answer to.the argu-
I/AA osed.recently, as. well as on former occa-
siousOn support of this Bill, observec4 that when
,the. Noble Lord (Castlereagh) appeared on the
Continent in 1813,he was hailedits the advocate

and supporter of the liberties of Europe ; Ms ap-
pea ranee in every town Was Marked by the ac.-
clatnations- and. rejoicings of the people.---He,
(Mr. H.) happened to be near the Noble Lard at
the time, and had witnessed the triumph with
which he was received. Very different, however,
was the opinion entertained of his Lordship intBl7.
The Noble Lord was then looked upon as one of the
general conspirators. against European liberty. It
was said that Lord C. was not himself an- enemy to
freedom, but that he had been betrayed into a
league against' universal freedom. The Hon.
Member, adverting to the situation of the Queen,
observed, that this was-an additional reason'why
no such Bill as this should be passed at present.
If-he should go' Alone out 'of that Mine,' he
shOuld still divide' upon the question. But he
was aware that he had no fears. to entertain on
that account. He knew that there. were many
Gentlemen equally anxious to exert themselves
against this Bill,And to OPpose it, , even in this
its last stage, no matter hoW unsuceesSfully..
The people of this country were a people who.
had ever prided themselveS on the protection
they afforded • to strb.ngers: The Honburable
Gentleman, after some other observations, said
that if the Noble Lord were to consult his
own feelings he would consent to withdraw
this odious and obnoxious Act. lie concluded
by moving, that the third reading of the Bill be
postponed to that day six months‘
Mr. C. SMITH supported, the Bill.

Mr. MuNcK. considered ,this Bill to be calcu-
lated to withdraw frOin -those public spirited"per-
sons abroad, Who riiight be' Called the Whigs' of
the Continent, their last asylnuL lie strongly
opposed it, as bad in principle, detestable in its,
nature, and uncalled for b the present circurn-
stance's of the country: lie 'should vote .With
much pleasure• for tbie-amendment. '

Sir It. IVILso:' considered
,the 13i11 as anti,
liberal, anti-Liiiash, aiia. ty'rannical. in its prin-
ciples. . ;v' '-• :. ' ' -"' •• '" ' - •
..Mr. liumlf spoke in favour of the amendment.
The Ilous'e divided, when the numbers were—
ii;.. ti-,,Nn-ii,i),:nut.,,t -,3 i.•
Agoilisl/4 it, f,9 ,
The - Bill iyas "thew read a third time and
passed. •

IRISH SPIRITS INTERCOURSE BILL.

The House went into a Committee on the Irish
Spirits Bill.
On a clause providing that it should be law-
ful for any person to haVe possession spirits
(foreign brandy, hollands, and genera excepted)
stronger than 22 under proof by Sykes's hydro-
►neter, a discussion of some length took place, in
which the CHANCELLOR Of 'the ExcityQuEtt,-Mr.
W. Smyru,Sand Mr. D. BROWN participated, and
in the course of which

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
his views with respect to' the Bill, and stated
it to be his object •to • restore the spirit trade
of Ireland to what it had been since the
Union. Ireland had been in the habit of send-
ing into England, annually, from 1,000,000 to
1,200,000 of gallons of spirits., -41 e was' dis-
posed to-restore the track,- to the footing on whieh
it formerly stood ; and besides,,it was his inten-
tion to 'grant other privileges. hie howevei jus-
tified the restriction intended to be imposed is
to strength, by subjecting- it ...to the rectifying
process contemplated in the Bill. Enough was
seen in this country of the evil effects of spirits
taken at that degree of strength- at whiCh they
were alloWed tO be consumed in this country, to
make it -at all desirable that they should come to
the public at the same strength as that at which
they were consumed' in Ireland,- and which,
though long use alight make it tolerable -to' the
palate, could not but be injurious to the stomach
and the brain.

Sir J. NEWroRT said, that all that Ireland
desired was; that thelaw. shOuld be restored
the state in which it stood down to the :year-
-1807.

Mr. C. HUTCHINSON contended, that under
the Act of Union the Irish Distilter right
to introduce what was a:perfect manufacture in
Ireland into England, without being subject to
any process that should alter its character.

Lord IsmErtr. Mll.drgued," that it was" neces-
sary that the decision corn-6 td by the nottse
should rest on solid principles,- regulated by' a
sense of justice, and not .by a desire to protect
any particdlarinterest in this country or in Ire-
land in preference to an opposite interest. The
Noble- Lord was- assured- them could -be but one'
fe!eling with respect to the interests of Ireland.
On the subject-of a violation of the Act of Union,
he was-as de irons as the' Whist zealous of his-
countrymen to maintain the contract entered into
by that. Act.• He suggested to his Right Hon.
Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that it
would be better to- Confine the procVeding-of the
House to the-measure as it, sfood • without' the
proposed clause. The law might operate until
next Session, and, if it should then appear not to
be equitable, Parliamentiwould dotibtless apPly a
remedy. , • .

'Mr. SHAWE concurred in the observations of
the Noble Lord. .
. .

The CH txvtr,r.on of the EXCHEQUER express-
ed his readiness to attend to-tht•snOcistion of the
'Noble Lord, if it should appear ;to,,tneet the
sanction of the House.

Mr. W..SMITH did. not see how the. House
could depart from the regulation-with-respect -to'
Irish spirits, - protected- and supported by. Mr.
Pitt, ivho had doubtless adhered .to the Union.
The revenue. of United Kingdom would be
improved if Irish spirits was,not subtaitted- to the
rectifier in. England.
Mr, IlusKissoN considered the proposition of
the Noble Lord so reasonable, that he -gawit his
,support. lie wished to concede all to one party
until .next Session, when any equitable proceed-
ing which the interest- of both countries might
require would ..be adopted by Parliament. Ills
-
Noble .Friend's proposition was calculated to
give satisfaction to all parties. ; -
Mr. M. FITZGERAT,D expressed a hope that the
&pinion of the Noble Lord was understood, and
that the Right Hon. Gentleman would not., di-

rectly or indirectly introducetis proposed clause
during the present SeSsio.n.
Mr. W..Sharrn said, the -English distillers had
paid 3,30,0001. into the hands of Government
as duties for the consumption of spirits during
the autumn, and it was a matter of no small jai'
portance for them to know whether they were,
likely to realize their calculated profits.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD contended, that the best
mode of proceeding would be to leave the clues.;
tion to the future discussion of the House 451,
Commons.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, 15
it seemed-to be the wish of the House not to in"
troduce the clause, he should consent to let the
question remain open to the next Session of Parlie
meat: Tie therefore, after hearing all the obser+
vations, as well as the able remarks of the Molt
ber for Norwich, should propose to proceed with
the Bill without any additional clause.
The clause was accordingly withdrawn, ant!
after a few words from Mr. GRANT, the 10
went through the Committee, and the Report
was ordered to be'received to-marrow.

Adjourned at Half-past One o'Clock.

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