Star.
London, England, 1822-06-29 00:00:00

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PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.
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HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 2s.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented six Petitions from Owners
end Occupiers of Land, in the County of York, egged the.
Corn Importation Act Amendment Bill.—Laid on the table.
The. Earl of LAUDERDALE said he rose to present a Pe-
tition which described a case of peculiar-hardship, and which
called for the serious attention of the House : it was that of as
unfortunate debtor who was unable to obtain relief under the
Insolvent Debtors' Act, and he believed this was the first case
which had yet occurred in which such s hardship existed. It
was the Petition of a married woman, named Mary Deacon,
who stated, that while she was a widow, and before her present
marriage, she had contracted a debt of £l5O for medical assist-
auce ; that since her last marriage she and her husband were
arrested and put in prison for that debt; and that when she ap-
plied to the Insolvent Debtors' Court for her discharge, the
tommiesioners declared they had no power, by the Act, to dis-
charge her, because, she being a married woman, could. make
no assignment o: property.—The Petition was read and ordered
to lie on the table.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE then said he trusted that if
this case should turn out to their Lordships to be such as•was
represented, they would feel the necessity of adopting some
amendment in the present Att.
Mr. IL G. RENNET brought up the Publicans Licensing. Bill,
from the House of Commons.—lt was read a first time.
The Assessed Taxes Bill, and some Private Bills were also
brought up, and read a first time.
Mr. ROBINSON, from the Customs, brought up the printed Ac-
counts of the importation and exportation of Gold Bullion. An
Account was also presented from the Royal Military Canal.
MARRIAGE ACT.
The House again took into consideration the Report of the
Committee on the Marriage Act Amendment Bill.
Lord ELLEN BOROUG H moved as an amendment, that
the Bill shotild not extend to any marriage contracted before the
passing of the Act, on the validity of which a Court of compe-
tent jurisdiction had pronounced a Judgment.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said the c:anse he had to pro-
pose would answer the purpose better. It was to this effect;
that nothing in the Act should go to validate a marriage which,
before the passing of this Act, was declaied by a competent tri-
bunal to have been invalid.—This was agreed tn.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had now to propose a
clause which he considered absolutely necessary for the protec-
tion of property. Although marriages should be declared by this
Bill to be valid, it did not follow that titles to property should
be shaken-by such enactment. Many persons claimed property
under which would not have been made, if it had been
thought that such a Bill as this would ever pass. From the ex-
pectetion that a certain marriage should be rendered invalid, a
man night sell what he conceived to be his reversionary interest
in at: estate, for a valuable consideration. By the present pro-
visioos of the Lill these and other transactions would be dune
away. A clause had been introduced into the Bill to secure to
parties the property already in their posse-sion ; but a rever-
sionary interest was as valuable a property as any property in
possession. Ilia Lordship then proposed a clause to this effect,
that this Act should not affect any arrangements or claims re-
'pectin reversionary interests, although the parties were nor in
actual possession of the property ; but that all setts and pur-
chases of such interests should stand good.
The Rails of HARROWBE and laveseaoe supported the clause,
and after some discussion, the House divided :
Contents - .. see
Non-Contents - - 42
Majority against the clause - —l7
The LORD CHANCELLOR again contended that some
provision similar to that clause which had just been rejected,
bhould, for the safety of property and the quiet of temihes, be
introduced into the Bill.
Lord REDESDA LE moved a clause for the protection of
executors and tru-tees against whom claims might be made, in
consequence of the validity which this Bill would give to mar-
riages.—Agreed to.
Lord El LEN BOROUGH said he should propose a clause
to exempt the. ltuyel Family and Jews from the operetiou of
this
The Report being agreed to, the Bill was ordered to be read .
a third time on Tuesday next.—Adjourned to Monday..
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. JAMES BROWN gave notice that, early in the next
Soolon, he would submit to the Hoese a measure, the object of
welch would be the payment of the Catholic Clergy of Ireland
out of the Revenue of the State.
Mr. C VIM EN presented a Petition from certain Manufac-
turers cf, and Dealers in, Hard Soap, setting forth that the par-
tie! repeal of the SAL Tax would produce much hardship, and
praying tor its total repeal.—Ordered to he printed.
The Thames Lastage and Ballastage Bill was read a second
time, and committed.
Mr. GRATTA N moved for Returns of all Ships that had
cleared out of Dublin Harbour in the three years ending Janu-
ary 1, 182!, with a Return of the number of Ships that had come
into Dublin Harbour in the same time, specifying the Port
Duties received, Lau.—Ordered.
The Assessed Taxes Composition Rill, as amended by the
Lords, was taken into consideration and agreed to, and ordered
back to the Lords.
The Roasted Corn Bill was teed a third time.
Sir itosEwr WILSON called the attention of the house
to the case of those persons who had been punished for offering
roasted corn for sale. They were unconscious of committing
any offence when they did that fur which they had been .everel)
punished, and their view of the case would seem to have beet
not very much out of the way from the introduction of the
present measure. He therefore hoped their case would be taken '
into consideration. Ile then moved a clause to authorise the
reimbursing of those who had been fined, to the amount of the'
fuses which had been levied on them.
Mr. T. AV I LSON thought it would be a case of great hard
ship to enforce the penalties against the parties who had bee;
st.igsgt.d in selling roasted corn.
Mr. H. SUMNER concurred with the view taken by the
last speaker on this subject.
Mr. W. SMITII thought the offence which had been commit-
ted-was most venial, arid supported the clause.
Mr. LUSH INGTON (ejected to the clause, because It was
wholly unnecessary, as the Treasury had new the power of re- I
toittitig any fine. It was their wish to take the cases of the
auffeters into consideration, and there was every disposition on
their part to afford relief, where relief could with propritty
be extended.
Mr. C ALCRA FT said these parties had, unfortunately, in
ignorance of the law, incurred penalties which would to them,
though nut greet in amount, prove ruinoes ; hut, as the Right
*lon. Gentleman and the Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed
inclined to meet them with liberality, he was inclined to leave
them in the hand • of the Treasury, and should therefore advise
his Hoe. Friend to withdraw his clause.
Mr. Alderman WOOD wished the clause to pass. A discre-
tionary power being left in the hands of the Treasury would put
It in their power to make a difference between those who bad
politicaily off( oiled and others. '
Sir R. W I LSON said, as the Right Hon. Gentleman had
all through thas business iisplayed a disposition to candour, he
was willing to withdrew his ciausc ; understanding at the same
time, that, should :my irii,ating correspondence hove passed be-
tween the Board 01 Treasury and any of these individuals, it
shouel be forgotten in the decision on their cases.
Tne Bill was then passed, after which a short conversation
arose b itween Mr. W. SMITH and Mr. LUSIIINGTON on the sub-
ject of the title, which in the end received a slight alteration.
After son.e oeservations front Mr. Home Lord 13resuirs, the
LORI) Anvoceer, and others, the House went into a Committee
on the Scotch Jury Bill.—Report on Monday.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the F.REHRQVER, it was
ordered, that the House at its rising should adjourn till Monday.
Mr. HOLi f OUSE. presented a Petition from the inhabitants
of Taunton, ( tavourof the Boweirches, end praying that the
notes of the Judges .aken in the prosecution against that family
by Maria Glen should be referred to a Committee of the House
of Commons.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.
Sir R. FERG USSON presented a Petition from the Corpo-
ration of Hatomermen in the Royal Burgh of Inverness against
the Bill for regulating the Scotch Burghs.
A EtHrictRAIOTI arose on the merits of the Bill, in which the
Loan ADVOCATE., Mt. HUMS, Mr. J.l. Gas" the Marquis of
Loran , Lord A. 'leaner% and Sir G. Cases took part,
aim which the Petition was Ordered- to lie on the table.
Mr. MAXWELL presented a Petition from the Clerks of
the Peace in Ireland against the Grand Jury Presentment BBL
--Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. N. WODP.llolll3Spromated It Petition from a person

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