Star.
London, England, 1823-05-17 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 16.
Appeals were proceeded with at ten o'clock, when the case of
Sir James Duff u. the Earl of Fife," was argued for the ap-
pellant by Mr. Moncrieff in part, and the further bearing ad-
journed to Thursday.
At about half after two the Loco CitaNent.t.oa repaired to a
Council, whence he returned at half after four o'clock ; when
the Earl of LIVIRPOOL laid upon the table, by his Majesty's com-
mands, some additional Pape: s iu relation to the Slave Trade.
Lord DACRE moved for Returns of the Duty on Mak from
the year 1793 to the present time.
The same Noble Baron then presented a Petition fro/it Roy-
Ston. In the County of Hens, praying fur the abolition of Colo-
nial Slavery.
Appeal Papers were presented from the Court of Chancery,
in Ireland.
Sir E. Ksiaratact.t., Mr. J. Pm, Sir T. WINNINGTON, and
others, brought up the Maidstone and Liverpool Gas Light Bills
(the latter with the amendments agreed to), and alsd'the I udders-
field Church Bill ; which Bil:s were accordingly read a first time.
Sir G. HILL afterwards brought up a Message from the other
I louse, informing their Lordships that it appeared from the pro-
ceedings of the Commons that a certain clause iu the Ireland
County Treasurers' Bill (which the Hon. Member read) had,
though rejected by the other Ilouv, been included by mistake
in the engrossed Bill before their Lordships, and requesting that
the said clause might by their Lordships be expunged from the
forernentioned Bill.
The. LORD CHANCELLOR (who had intimated to Sir
G. Hill an opinion that their Lordships could not proceed to ex-
punge the clause) replied, that their Lordships would forthwith
send their answer by Messengers of their own. _
The Earl GROSVENOtj put two or three queries to the
Noble Earl at the head of the Treasury, as to the abolition or
continuance of Shiecures in the West.lndies.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that numbers of sinecures
were falling in ; and, with respect to the West Indies, fresh ar-
r.:moments were made; all, in reality, had been done that possi-
bly could. Sinecures were abolished throughout our Colonies.
Bat the question was, after all, as to the meaning of the word
Insecure r for there were a number of important situations not
caking for much labour, where, however, both talent and re-
sponbility were demanded, and which could not be filled by a
substitute. At present all the revenue and judicial situations in the
Wes: Indies were obliged to be filled by those appointed to them.
The Earl GROSVENOR, in consequence of what had
fallen from the Noble Lord, moved for Accounts of all Offices
granted in Reversion since the year 18‘20.—Blotion agreed to.
COMMITTEE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN brought to the re-
collection of their Lordships that it was about a week
ago he had introduced a Petition from the Mem-
bers of the Chamber of the City of Glasgow, who
prayed to be heard by Counsel in opposition to the
Bill now before this House for the equalisation of
Weights and Measures, though founded, as its pre-
amble set forth, upon the Great Charter. That Pe-
tition, which in the first instance was withdrawn on
account of an informality, had since been amended,
and he now presented it to their Lordships. With
the passing attention he had been enabled to bestow
on it, he was not prepared to give any just opinion
of the import and tendency of the present Bill, but
he certainly thought that a measure of such magni-
tude, which interfered with established usages, and
was of such interest to the manufacturer and trader,
should not be slighted in its progress through this'
House. He knew, indeed, of several Noble Lords,

at present in the House, whose-habits of inquiry and
study had qualified them to investigate the question
in all its bearings and extent ; and, therefore, ke hoped
that their Lordships would come forward in this in-
stance, and bestow their best attention on the pending
Bill.—Petition laid upon the table.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that he entirely
agreed with the sentiments of the Noble Marquis, as
the subject was itself of considerable importance, and
their Lordships ought not to proceed one step with-
out first obtaining the opinions of persons most ac-
quainted with it. With respect tp the manner in
which their Lordships might dispose of the Bill, as
connected with the Petition, it would be recollected,
' that a Standing Order had been adopted, on the mo-
tion of a Noble Earl (Lauderdale), by which certain
Bills could not, therefore, be entertained by this
House, unless they had previously been submitted to
a Committee.—Here, upon the motion of the Noble
Earl, the Standing Order was read.—He certainly
knew no better method of treating the subject; and
if the present case did not exactly come under the
wording of the Order, he was certain that it accorded
with the spirit of it. He should therefore move,
that the Bill in question be referred to a Select Com-
mittee, as he was confident that it might be formed,
without difficulty, from amongst Noble Lords pre-
sent in the House.

After a few remarks from Viscount MELVILLE,
as to the desirableness of having the Reports of the
House of Commons on the subject, and some observa-
tions from the Duke of SOMERSET, who was inclined
in general to the proposed Bill, a Select Committee
was appointed to investigate the subject cf Weights
and Measures, and report their opinion, and to whom
Petitions were in future to be referred.

THE MILITIA (IRELAND) REDUCTION BILL.
The Earl of GOSFORD now restated and en-
forced his objections to the passing of the above Bill.
Ile hoped, that seeing the state of Ireland, men
would not hastily be sent adrift, to increase the sum
of disaffection.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL, while giving full credit
to the Noble Lord for his motives on this occasion,
felt it his duty to vindicate the pi inciple of the Bill.
Out of eight hundred reductions, no less than five
hundred were provided for; and only six or seven
Colonels had refused the proposals made to them.
The Earl of CALEDON spoke'against the Bill,
argued its impolicy, and remarked on the misfortune
of nut making such men happy in their homes.
Viscount LORTON agreed with his Noble Friends'
(Gusford and Caledon) in deprecating the measure;
•after which strangers were ordered to withdraw, and
their Lordships came to a division for the third read-
ing of the Bill as follows:
Contents /8
Non-Coutents 9
Majority for the third reading —9
The above Bill was then read a third time, passed,
and messaged to the other House.
The Commercial (Ireland) Intercourse Bill, the Witnesses
Abroad Examination Bill, and the Ireland Charitable Loan So-
cieties Bill, were also read a third time, passed, and Messages
Seat to inform the other House.
It was ordered that a Message should be sent to the Com-
mons, requesting copies of the second and third Reports on
Weights and Measures for their Lordship? use.
Upon the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, their
Lordships adjourned, for the Whitsun Holidays, to Thursday.