Star.
London, England, 1822-03-01 00:00:00

Mr. CA LCRA Fr said that COmmissioners had been sent
some years ago to Malta, and had made their Report upon the
State of that Colony. lie wished to know whether there war
any objection to lay the Report upon the table?
slr. WLLMOT said there would be no objection.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. •
Lord EBRINGTON held in his hand a Petition, to which
he invited the attention of the House. The Petition was signed
by no less than 4600 persons belonging to Friendly Societies in
Plymouth and Plymouth Dock, and it complained of the injury
which they bad sustained by the operation of the Act of 1819.
By that Act the Trustees to aU Friendly Societies were 're-
quired to be substantial househOlders, rated at £5O a-year. It
was found difficult, in many cases, to procure Trustees of this
description, and the consequence was, that out of twenty-six
Friendly Societies in -Plymouth, eighteen had been dissolved: It
appeared to him (Lord' Ebrington), however, that the Peti-
tioners bad misconceived the effect of the Act to which they
alluded, fore upon referring to that Act, be was of opinion that
it was in reference to Societies to be formed in future, and that
the fourth section had not a retrospective effect at all. As, how-'
ever, the unfortunate consequences attended it which the Peti-
tioners complained of, ft was desirable to set the question at
rest, by this House pronciencing an opinion upon it. The Peti-
tioners stated that it was in consequence of the very general in-
jury which Friendly Societies suffered, in all parts of the coun-
try, from a doubt as to the effect of this Act, that they bad
thought it their duty to bring the matter before the House.—
' Seeing the Hon. filember who had brought in the MU in his
place, he (Lard Ebriogton) wished him to give the Hesse sane,
ta
tiou as to the effect of this Statute.
. eIIiCOURTRNAY said, he was sorry that any Bill which
-lie bad brought into that House should be inconveniently mis-
conceived. It, would be for the Lawyers, new that the Act was
posed, to give their construction of it ; but, •in his opinion the
Idobk-Lord was right in thinking that the Petitioners had not
taken a right view of the effect of this Act. The Act, be war
clearly of opinion, was meant to apply 4o Societies to be formed
in fume, and not to those Which were already in being. The
only clause which applied to Societies already formed was the
15th, which wits introduced by the Honourable Member for
Portsmouth, and that pee a power to Justices, in cases of the
widows or orphans of members, to give them•reliel. This was
the only clause which regarded Societies already formed. With
regard to the Act itself, be had only to say that, before into-
duelist it to this House, be had bad communication with
parts of the country—with Devonshire, whence this Pos
came—with Gloucester, York, London, Middlesex, Kent, Mid
other places, where Friendly Societies were formed, or about to
be formed, and they had all approved of it. The Act did not
require that the 'Householder Trustees should be rated in
•
Yesterday his MAJESTY held a Privy Council at his
. but rated at an income of £5O a year. He could oot think *et
it was so difficult to get Trustees of that description; but at the
Palace at Brighton. Same time he had no objection to repeal dot prevision, it'd* to-
The late Mr. Courrs's property has been,greatly exaggerated convenience horn stated really resulted from it. He won*
by report. Be the amount, however, what itenay, Mr. Corns i therefore, suggest that it be referred to a Committee, who meld
was the chief artificer of his own fortune. take the whole affair into their consideration.
The police of Palermo, aided by the Austrian The Petition was theskrad. 'lt Was signed by the members
troops, is disarming the inhabitants of the city and of the Phcenit, or Unita Artifieeis7 Friendly Societyt
et
, mouth Dock, aork-ItrOplil the Heuse to take. hoe its
t'ie environs. sidersden.thebisießeSktoi Want from the Seth.
Citaane of Rare.—Bow'-wares—We stated a few days ago, etc. 3 awl 4 334,33 meat the same.—Laid on the
that a Clerk in a Government-Office had been charged with bay. _
orueres to siet •
ing violated the person of a young woman in whose father's house r; • • •
_ . .
he lodged. The name of the former is Miller, that of the Inter • • AIIIIIICUIAIJitAL DISTRESS. •
Sharman. A public examination of the case took plaice yester- THOMAS LET 11 II It LPG preiented a Petition front
day, when both the parties appeared, die young woman bring the Laddheliders of the Town and Nelphourlsood'of firitten,l
attended by her father, mother, and sister. A long nomination In Seoiseekstdret eomplainitig of Agrienkeral,Distreotoliprey-
of witnesses took place, in the course of Which it appeared that leg the Moues to take their eon tato Its RA* sad serious oa-
th* prosecutris was by no means circumspect in her cohduet ; duration. Ile (Sir Thomas) hplabeim requested, not us)), by
and one person in the course of his cross.examinetioe, was , those Petitioners, but by ktteti frown several parts of the men.
compelled to admit s fact which took from her entirely tike pits try, loudly to call for the toterkriNke `of this lions* In bebaU of
of ionoonser. Wise charge was, of course, dismissed. i the severe dotes under which theifsititbsoirs Ishoused:
. isl .4 .t. 4 :It • -