Star.
London, England, 1825-03-30 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 29.

Mr. Amami. from the Treasury, presented copies of Treasury
Minutes, respecting Special Superannuations.—Laid on the table.
Mr. Campeau and others, tram the Commons brought up the
Glasgow Gas Bill and several Private Bills, which were read a
first time.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented a Petition from the
Householders and Churchwardens of St. Paul's, Covent-Garden,
against the Equitable Loan Bill.—Laid on the table.
Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition in favour of the Bill,
from forty-five poor individuals, who bad lost their property in
consequence of a Ire happening at a pawnbroker's on Saffron-hilL
The Petition was only signed by two of those individuals, the others
nut being able to write, but they had affixed their marks. They
stated that the pawnbroker had lent them money at the rate of 200
per cent. and that they had been left entirely destitute in conse-
quence of the loss of their property, and that within the last twelve
months, three other fires at pawnbrokers had caused the greatest
distress amongst the poor. They prayed, therefore, that their
Lordships would piss the Bill before them, as it would give the
lower classes protection against excessive rates in borrowing money,
and the danger of casualties. He (Lord Holland) admitted that he
oas ignorant of the provisions of the Bill before the House, and
was not friendly to the principle of legislative interference in the
private speculations of individuals, or their modes of disposing of-
property, but conceiving the present to be a hard case, he had
thought it his duty to present the Petition, and to leave it to the
wisdom of their Lordships to dispose of the subject u they should
think proper.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said that pawnbrokers had now
considerably reduced the rate at which they lent money.—The Pe-
tition was then laid on the table.
The Earl of SH A FTESBURY presented a Petition from the
Inhabitants of the Parish of AU Saito, Fulham, against the Equi-
table Loan BBL—Laid on the table,
Lord HOLLAND 'presented a Petition front John Grant, of
Margate, against some parts of the Margate Improvement Bill.—
Laid on the table.
Earl GROSVENOR held a Petition from an individual, who
prayed that a stop might be put to all cruel experiments on living
animals. He (Earl Grosvenor) considered the subject in a. most
serious light, and was not disposed to treat with indifference the
efforts made by an Honourable Gentleman in another place to pre-
vent cruelty to animals. He thought, on the contrary, that he had
done real service to the country. At the same time he was aware
that some of the most important discoveries which had been made,
the circulation of the blood, the tying up of the aorta, and the re-
moval of the thigh bone out of the joint, had bees effected through
experiments on living animals. Most beneficial operations had thus
been performed by a Bell,. a Brodie, and an Astley Cooper, which
they would net have ventured to attempt without the knowledge
previously acquired through the means of animals. A large body of
the Medical Profession In his pirt of the country, however, were
tiloptnion that it was not necessary to have recourse to those cape-
Attests. The cruelties said to have been practised by Dr. Majen-
die had been denied. Had the facts been as horrible as they had
been represented, he should not, have been unprepared to support
some legislative measure to put an end to such practices. The Noble
Earl then reproved the brutal, cruel, and degrading sports carried
on at the Westminster Cockpit, and. those which had been an-
nounced in the country. He did not think legislating necessary.
however, because he conceived that the progreu of education would
put an end to such amusements, which he was surprised Mr. Wynd-
ham could ever have considered as tending to infuse a manly spirit
into the people. Though nut prepared to legislate at present, he
did hot mean to say that the time might not come when be should
be ready to support some measure on the subject. On concluding
these observations the Noble Earl stated, that in consequence Of
something which he saw in the Petition, he should withdraw it for
the present.
' On the motion of Viscount llatiottx, the Report of the itmend-
meats of the Scotch Juries Bill was agreed to, ind the Bill ordered
to be engrossed.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF .COMMONS.
On the motion for the second reading of the West India Com-
pany's Incorporation Bill,
Mr. F. BUXTON announced his intention of giving the Bill his
most deckled opposition. He should take this course, not only be-
cause this was a Joint Stock Company, but because one half of the
capital was, to be appropriated to the purchase of 40,000 of theit

RICHARD CARLILI.
Mr. HUME presented a Petition from Richard CAT.
lile, now in Dorchester Gaol, complaining of his deten-
tion in consequence c f his not being able to pay the fine
imposed upon him. He declared that it was very hard
be should be kept in prison for the payment of a fine which he was
disabled from paying, because the Sheriff had seised wpm all his
property, amongst which were several books not of a seditious or
blasphemous nature • but which were detained by Government.
The ATTONNEY-GENERAL said, th t if the
Sheriff had done anything wrong there was a 'egad
remedy for it. Mr. Carlile had actually brought an
action against the Sheriff, in which the Sheriff's' con-
duct was canvassed, and in which Mr. Carlile did not
obtain more than aominal damages. Ile wished it,
however, to be distinctly understood that his Majesty's
Government had nothing to do with the detention-of
Mr. Carlile's books, it was entirely tie act cf the Sheriff,
who was legally authorized to that effect. If, amongst
those books there were any which were not i bjection-
able, by an application to the Under Sheriff he had no
doubt they would be sold for the benefit of Mr. Carlile.
Mr. Secretary PEEL observed, that Mr. Carlile
ought to have stated amongst the reasons for, his deceit.
Lion in jail, the violence of his own conduct. To shew
that he (Mr. Secretary Peel) was not desirous ofireep..
ing people in prison beyond tlyir allotted term because
of the non-payment of .fines, he reminded the 'Howe
that he had released Mr. Carlile's own sister. He did
not mean to say that after such a period of imprison-
ment should have passed as might be deemed equiva-
lent to the amount of the fine, it would not be right and
proper to release the prisoner. But what had been the
conduct of Mr. Carlile? He had given him (Mr,
Secretary Peel) distinct notice, that after a c,rtai i day
he should consider himself illegally detained in prison,
and should murder the first person that off red to op.
pose his departure. He had corrupted persons in the
neighbourhood and prevailed upon them to disseminate
the blasphemous productions of his pen and press. Had
he conformed to the regulations of the jail, and con-
ducted himself in a becoming manner under the cir..

cumstances of his situation, he might by this time have received
the extension of the Royal mercy. lie regretted every occasion
upon which a subject of this nature was approached in that House.
Mr. HUME, said tbat some allowance was to be
made for Mr. Carlile's long imprisonment. It was understood that
he had been actually mad for forty-eight hours.
The Petition was then read, and ordered to be printed.

On the motion of Mr. H U 11 E a return was ordered of the nuns•
ber of Certificates granted by the Apothecaries' Company, also
the number of persons rejected by the Company, the amount of
money obtained, and how appropriated.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT presented a Petition from certain
Landowners of some parishes in Ireland, relative to theCompuration
of Tithes—Laid on the table. _ _

.
Mr. LITTLETON gave notice, that on Thursday, 14th April,
he would move for leave to bring in a Bill for the regulation of the
riective Franchise in Ireland.
Lord F. GOWER gave notice, that on the 46th of April he
would move for leave to bring in a Bill for making a provision for
the Catholic Clergy of Ireland.
Mr. ELLICE presented a Petition from the Victuallers of Lou-
don, praying for an alteration in the Corn Laws. He (Mr. Ellice)
thought the. Corn Laws had better remain as they were, than undergo
suck an alteration as was proposed last night.
' After a few words from Mr. ur, the Petition was read and
ordered to be printed.
Sir H. PARNELL, in behalf of the Hon. Member for B.idgt.
north, postponed his motion on the subject of the Corn Laws Co
the 28th April.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON presented a Petition from the
Owners of Foreign Wheat new in bond, in this country, amounting
to 550,000 quarters, that it might be allowed to be used before, any
impost was placed on them.
Mr. DICKENSON presented a Petition from the Archdeacon
and Clergy of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, praying that no
further concession may be granted to the Roman Catholicsr—Laid
on the table.
The Hon. Musara then presented a similar Petition from the
Archdeaconry of Taunton.—Laidon the table.
The Honourable Member presented a Petition from the Inha-
bitants of Shepton Mallett, against the Land TaA.—Ordered to be
printed.—Petitions were presented from the Counties of Kerry and
Galway, in favour of Provincial Banks in Ireland.
Mr. ABERCItOMBY presented a Petition from the Royal
College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, praying that their Liceniwts
may be allowed to practice as Apothecaries in England and Wales.
Laid on the table.