Star.
London, England, 1830-03-09 00:00:00

BANK NOTES.

Viscount GODERICH wished to put a question to the noble
duke at the head of his majesty's government respecting a return
which was now upon their lordships' table. The return professed
to be an account of the country bank-notes stamped within the last
three years. Now he wished to know whether the return included
the notes in circulation in Scotland as well as England ; and, if so,
whether there would be any objection to a return specifying the
amount in circulation in that country ?
The Duke of WELLINGTON said, as well as he recollected,
the return did include Scotland, and he would ascertain whether the
specification wished by the noble viscount could be furnished.
Adjourned at a QUARTER PAST FIVE.
HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY.
The Srzauta took the Chair shortly before four o'clock.
The House was occupied a considerable time in passing Pri-
vate

The Bill for the establishment of a new Market in St. Mary-la-
bonne was brought in, and read a first time.
Mr. Aldermon Wt '01) brought in a Bill for the formation of an
Arcade from London-wall to Bartholomew-lane.—Read a first time.

hir. Alderman WOOD presented a petition from the Vauxhall
Bridge Company, against the construction of a bridge at Lambeth.
on the table
PARLIAMENTARY PEES.

The SPEAKER said, he wished to acquaint the house that he
bad taken considerable pains to inquire into and ascertain the fees
charged in the Private Bill Office, and in the Committee Clerks'
Office. The principle on which he had gone was, to elucidate and
render perspicuous the various charges that were made in those
offices, in consequence of some obscurity existing on the subject.
He had been assisted in the inquiry by persons much more com.
petent to such a duty than he could possibly pretend to be, and they
all gave it as their opinion that the various charges were as fair and
reasonable as could be expected, though there was a degree of irre.
gularity in settin* them forth, and therefore a revision of the rystem
was rendered advisable. Concurring in the opinion which they had
expressed, he proposed that a list which he had made out of the se.
veral fees should be first laid on the table, and that some honourable
member should then move that it be printed. He proposed that it
should be afterwards hung up in the offices where the fees were
taken, so that each individual might see, at one glance, what he
had to pay, and be enabled to satisfy himself that the sum was not
more nor Vas than the fixed amount. (Hear.) He must, at the
same time, inform the house that the aggregate amount of fees was
much the same as before, and he thought it right that the public
should be undeceived on this point. The chief alteration made was
to render perspicuous that which was before obscure. If the house'
should concur in his view of the subject, he should now propose that
the list be laid on the table, and perhaps some hon. member would
then move that it be printed.
The paper was then laid on the table, and
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUhR moved that it be
printed.
Lord ALTHORP supported the motion, and said that the right
hon. gentleman in the chair was entitled to great praise for the pains
he had taken.

Mr. D. W. HARVEY regretted to hear from the right hon. gen-
tleman that the amount of fees was to be the same as before. He
himself was told of an instance in which two private bills were op.
posed, and a sum of 19€. was charged upon each.
The SPEAKER said, that whatever might be the opinion of
the honourable member to the contrary, nothing more than a rea-
sonable amount was charged. It was not for him (the Speaker),
without any knowledge of the circumstances, to say whether the
charges to which the honourable member adverted were correct
or not. Ile could only say, that such charges could not have
been made in the regular way under the system sanctioned by the
house.

Mr. D. W. HARVEY said that, after such a challenge as this
from the right hon. gentleman—(Order, order.) All he had meant
to say was, after what had now been stated from the chair, he should
feel it his duty to inquire minutely into all the facts of the case to
which he had adverted.
The SPEAKER did not understand what the honourable mem.
ber meant by the word " challenge." What he (the speaker)
wished to impress upon the honourable member was, that by the
schedule of fees which had just been laid on the table it was utterly
impossible such a charge could have been made as coming from
this house. There was a very great difference between the charges
made by parliamentary agents and the fees regulated by the order
of the house.

The motion was then agreed to, and the subject dropped.
LAW OP LIIIZL.

Mr. SADLER gave notice that on Tuesday, the 30th, he would
bring forward a motion on the subject of the law of ilk'.
Mr. A. CAMPBELL presented a petition from the landholders
of the county of Renfrew, complaining of agricultural distress ; and
a petition from Glasgow against the tenewal of the East India Com.
piny's charter. —Laid on the table.
Sir EDWARD HERMON presented a petition from the
borough of Eye, in Suffolk, complaining of distress.—Laid on the
table.

Lord CLIVE presented a petition against the Malt Duties, from
the agriculturists of the county of Salop—Laid on the table.

DISTRESS Or THE COUNTRY.

Mr. DICKINSON said he had to present a petition from certain
Inhabitants of Taunton and its vicinity, complaining of distress, and
expressing their regret that his majesty. government has taken no
steps to afford relief. It was signed by 1,400 persons, including
several magistrates and individual. belonging both to the agricul-
tural and commercial classes.

Sir C. BURRELL supported the petition, and expressed his
surprise at what had been said in the other house of parliament by
a distinguished personage (the Duke of Wellington), that timber
had not fallen in value, and therefore that the distress among the
agriculturists could not be so great as was represented. Now he
(Sir C. Bunell) was informed, on good authority, that timber was
greatly reduced in price, as compared with former period.. He
knew ofa person, who had before got 111. 13e per load for timber,
now getting only 71. and was informed by him that 71. 104, was the
very highest price he was paid.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE admitted that very great distress did
exist in all parts of the county of Someriet—indeed much greater
distress than had existed there at any former period ; but much as
he respected the character of the petitioners, who were undoubtedly
most respectable persons, he thought them premature in complain.
Ing that his Ilajesty s government had taken no steps towards ef-
keting relief. POT his own part, he looked forward with greet anxi-
ety to the statement which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
to make on the 10th, and he was quite sure that if the Fetid's=
were aware that it was to be made they would not have brass* hr.
ward such a complaint. He knew that no produce oft WI, with
the exception of wheat, bore a remunerating prier. If, litwevirs
there should be this year a fair average crop, as these was last year,
wisest would bear a remunerating Oct. He contended that the
disuses could never be prevented till there was a revision of the