Star.
London, England, 1812-01-30 00:00:00

POLICE MAGISTRATES.

Mr. Secretary RYDER rose to move for the dis-
charge of so much of the order of Sir Francis Bur-
dett, relating to the Police Magistrates, as required
from them a list of their qualificationsfunder the sta-
tute, for holding" their offices, viz. a statement of
" where they are, and what they are." The impro-
priety of this part of the order had been pointed out
to him by a Learned Member, not now in his place,
(the Attorney-General) : it was this—The Act im-
poses severe penalties on those Magistrates who do
not comply with its conditions ; and the tendency,
therefore, of the Honourable Baronet's motion would
be to exact from the Magistrates such accounts as
might subject them to criminal proceedings for a
breach of the statute. He had communicated his
own sentiments and intentions on this topic to the
Honourable Baronet two days ago ; but as he had re-
ceived no answer, he supposed that the impropriety
was acknowledged by the Honourable Baronet. In
conclusion, he should merely state, that he had had
no communcation whatever with any Magistrate.—
He therefore moved, that so much of the order should
be disch:aged as requited a statement, ,d What and
where are the qualifications of Magistrates ?"
Mr. WHITBREAD observed, that perhaps the
Honourable Baronet had not received the communi-
cation ; at any rate, the order should not be dischar-
ged in his absence, without giving him an opportu-
nity of stating any objection he had to such a pro-
ceeding. He could not see the great inconvenience
to Magistrates which was apprehended by the Right
Honourable Secretary. It might perhaps be the ob-
ject of Sir Francis Burdett to shew that some one
Magistrate had not given in the requited specifica-
tion of his qualifications, which would no doubt be
the ground of a penalty. This might be the object ;
but not having had any communication with the Ho-
nourable Baronet, he could not tell ; yet at any rate,
he saw no reason why the House should not postpone
the debate on this subject.
_ _

Mr. RYDER 504i,1", he had no doubt that his note
had been received, for it was left at the house of the
Honourable Baronet. He might afterwards, if he
pleased, revive the order, by taking the sense of the
House.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT strongly objected to this
last proposal. It would
plead to this absurdity, that
the House should be employed one day to make an
order, next day to rescind it, and afterwards to revive
it. For himself, he could see no harm in making the
Magistrates give in an account of their qualifications ?
What would be the result ? merely, that the Legisla.
ture should interfere to take cognizance of their con-
duct, instead of the qui lam informers. At all events,
the debate ought to be deferred till the Honourable
Baronet came down.

Mr. TIERNEY said, that it did not follow, be-
cause the Honourable Baronet had not answered the
communication, that he therefore assented to it.—
What was the meaning of the present Motion ? An
order is made for Magistrates to state their qualifica-
tions ; and the Right Honourable Secretary moves
to alter it, because he finds that some Magistrates
will be eliminated by it.—[" No! no!" from the
Ministerial lkinth,:s.]—Why, really, that was there-
suit of his reasoning, when he stated, that it might
produce griat inconvenience to some Magistrates.—
He himself thought the order very useful. If an}, Ma-
trates bad evaded the Act, it was fit they should
.3
be animadverted upon : if any should be found to,
have acted uetntentionally, it would be in the power
of the House to relieve them. He could not approve
of the mtggested method of reliving the Order. It
would give the other side of the House an opportu-
tunity of using their favourite argument, that fter
the II( use had once expressed its sense by a majority,
it should not he again taken on the same subject.
Mr. KEN R ICK thought that the House would
exercise its inquisitorial power very improperly, it it
forced Magistrates to criminate themselves : nor
would the order produce the desired effect. The
present qualifications of Magistrates might be very
different from these which they possessed at first ;
they might have sold or changed their original qua-
lifications, and it would be too inquisitorial for the
House to demand an account of changes which it
might be inconvenient to state.
Mr. HORNER asked, was it to be endured, that
the House should be required to give up its inquisi-
torial power, because the parties examined before it
would perhaps be found to have broken the law ?
Was it not rather the object of their inquisitions to
detect such criminals ? But he deniei that in this
case the Magistrates would be, called on to criminate
themselves. The proper officers appointed in every
county would present the desired information to the