Star.
London, England, 1812-04-08 00:00:00

SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS IN IRELAND.

Sir J. NEWPORT moved for an account of malt,
flour, &c: exported from Ireland from the Ist of Ja-
nuary, 1812.

Mr. W. POLE was convinced there was no scar-
city of grain ; prices had risen so high in Ireland,
from the exports, that some step was necessary to pre-
vent apprehension. It was not prudent to stop the
export of grain to our army ; but right, if possible,
to reduce the consumption of spirits, and to stop the
export of them. This might prevent the rise of prices.
To-morrow he should move an additional tax on spi-
rits. He then stated the rise on potatoes and bread,
which, from January the 24th to March the 24th,
was very considerable.

Sir J. NEWPORT had been informed, that the
distillers had sent to Mr. Pole exaggerated accounts
of their stocks of grain, in confirmation of which be
read part of a letter.
Mr. SHAW (Dublin) confirmed the statement.
Mr. PARNELL did riot think there was a general
scarcity, because in many places there was a great
abundance.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, the subject was of the highest importance, and
if there was really a prospect of scarcity in Ireland,
it deserved their immediate consideration. He hoped
the House would keep in mind, that the int;,rmation
they were pAssessed of was at present ygry defective.
It appeared that in many parts there was great abun-
dance, and the mischief chiefly arose from the diffi-
culty of transporting provisions from one past to ano-
ther. The House would therefore be cautiou. how
they stopt the exportation of provisions from Ireland
to England. As to the stoppage of the distilleries in
Ireland, it was to be considered, that if you stopt
them where they were legal, you gave advantage to
those which wt re illicit ; which, while it would be no
saving of that quantity of human food, would, in a
very material degree, injure the revenue. Besides,
the distilleries could not be immediately stopped,
without given notice to that effect.
Mr. W. POLE said a few words, and the motion
was then agreed to.—Adjourned.

pm ,g of pre,— __eel re_ ey, y,
petition which he held in his hand was of such pri• POLICE.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OE COW
wary consequence, that he hoped the House would
MONS ON THE NIGHTLY WATCH AND POLICE OF
receive it. It was a petition Crum the United Corn-
-7'llE METROPOLIS.
pany of Merchant, trading to the East Indies, praying
hi s Report, which has been printed by order of
tor an extension of their Charter.—After the petition
vas read, the House of Commons, was delivered yesterday.
L It states that—
ord A. HAMILTON rose, not to oppose the
, The Committee first directed their inquiries to the
snotion, but to ask a few questions of the Right Hon.
state of the Nightly Watch, conceiving this branch
Gentleman opposite, with respect to transactions of
of the service, in consequence of late occurrences, to
public .notoriety, which had taken place since the
be pressed upon their attention with more urgency
House last met. At a meeting of the Proprietors of
than any other. Had they found the defects in this
East-Intlie Stock, it was asserted, that the Right part of our Police to have been such as to have de-
Hon. Gentleman had consented to the continuance
mended the immediate interposition of the Legisla-
of an exclusive trade to China with the East-India
cure, they would have made an early Report ; but
Company—that he had consented to the system of
they observed, that the apprehensions which had been
raising money for the next two years ; and also for a
excited had produced such a degree of activity and
new plan wit respect to the control of the army.—
vigilance in many parishes and districts, and such a
If the Right Honourable Gentleman had not given
conviction that the former means of security were in-
pledges on those points, he should be glad to hear sufficient, that all immediate alarm on this head had
him contradict what had gone abroad; but if he had been in a great measure removed. In some parishes
pledged himself, he could conceive nothing more dis-
the inhabitants have taken upon themselves the duties
respectful to the House, than thus to bind himself to
of superintendents of the Nightly Watch—and such
measures without laying them before Parliament.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER a system has been so effectual, that the Committee
replied, that nothing which could have taken place think it necessary only to recommend legislative
measures, to give an uniformity and permanence to between the Board of Control, and the Chairman of
the Directors of the Easelndia Company, could he No immediate danger being to be apprehended,
the Committee proceeded to obtain a more detailed
supposed to fetter in the least the coliduct of Parlia.
and comprehensive view of the circumstances, in.
anent. Before a question ofsuch moment should come fiuencing and affecting the state of the Metropolis as
betore Parliament for its decision, he thought he was
to its Police. •
quite right in forming a distinct idea himself of the With reference to this view of the subject, the
proptiety or impropriety of' extending the charter ;
Committee considers the Metropolis as divided into
and also of knowing by communication with the Di-
three parts.
rectors, what their opinions and feelings were. He The City of London, properly so called, and Li-
hoped, that in acting thus, he had not been guilty of berries thereof.
any disrespect to Parliament.
City of Westminster, and the Liberties thereof, and
Lord A. HAMILTON complained of having,
the several parishes which are neither within the City
been misrepresented by the Right Hon. Gentleman.
of London, nor the City of Westminster.
He did not say that he was wrong in forming any opi-
The City of London is governed by particular
Men he pleased, or communicating with the East.
Charters and Statutes, one of the oldest of which is
India Company on the extension of their Charter ; he
the Statute of Edward I. called the Stotts:um Civitatit
merely wanted to knew, whether he, as Minister, had London.
made the pledges belote alluded to.
Of these, the City of London, from the nature of
General GASCOIGNE said, that he should suffer its Magistracy, the gradation of its Officers, and
no opportunity to pass without pressing upon the
divisions dins limits, it says, affords an example of
House the injustice of the regulations said to be con-
that unity and dependence of pans, without which
nected with the renewal of the Charter.
T‘i
le-5e re- no good system of Police can ever be expected, an 4
gulations were injurious to the outports, end directly
recommends the adoption of a similar system in
contrary to the Articles of the Union with Ireland. minster, its Liberties, and the other adjacent parishes,
He never could conceive that it world enter into the which have hitherto formed an unconnected MASS of
conttenplation of Government to make all ships
scattered and uncontroulled local authorities.
coming from Asia discharge their return cargoes in The system for the City of Westminster is regu-
the port of London. On to-morrow Ire shoulu make laud by the Statute of 27th Elizabeth, by which
in:ll:4i, fooaded en the papers made public in ano-
pres'cling and subordinate Officers are appointed,
i
ther quarter. He should, however, previously move, and powers given to the Dean and Chapter, and the
that those papers be laid before House. ' High Steward and others, to !peke regulations for.
..Mr. HOWARD complained of the delay which 1 its good government—which Statute is enlarged by
bad taken place in the negociations between the Board the '29th Geo. 11. Chapter 25, and 31st Geo. IL
et Control and the Directors. From the 13th (die.
Chapter 17, and the High Constable is directed to
bruary, 1609, fOr two ycats and ten months, it up- obey the .High Steward, and ttte Petty Constable W
peared that no communicatioe had been had between I obey the High Constable ; but the Report says-, 1 4. the duties and superintendence of the High Stewasdi
Mr. WALLACE said, that though there was no have fallen into gr eat disuse, although Very important
record made of any connnuniCabon between the ; duties are imposed upon him. 'lt appears, however.
It,. .rd and the Directors during that lime, yet that i that on gre4t occasions of ceremony, he has inter-
was by no means a reason for concluding that rt°thir'S ' feted personally, and put himself at the head of 4
had been agitated beta etn them. 'l he palters pub- • whole civil force of the City c 4 Westminster, a 5.44
Dated were all that were conceived necessary to be the case of the present High Steward, the Mariegi
made known. 1 of Buckinetohapa9 at the funerals Of Lord Nelson tug!
Lou A. HAMILTON and Mr. WALLACE mutually, ;dr. Pitt." •
explained.—The petition was then brought up, and ' ' The , .
Report states, that the Statute of 14 Geo. 11,
,ordered to lie on the table. i c. 90; appears to be little known. and that many of
Mr. CREEV.keY begged to ask, what course it was the project; and improvements recommended to the'
intended to follow on this occasitio Committee as new, are substantively enacted by it,
'the' CHANCELLOR .of the EXCHEQUER ! and recommends that ics•picivigons be extended to
said, that the petition should be referred to a Corn- the adjacent parishes in and near the metropolis; but
mittee of the w:tole House, and that certain resolu- that it may be amended, particularly by granting a
tion's should be proposed in the Committee. ' Dower to raise the rates to defray the increased let-
' Gt nese! '.'..COIGNE moved for Copies of all pence arising. from the number or wages of the matte
the Correspondence which had 401 place betweea ly watch, the Ceputlittee being strongly Impress