Star.
London, England, 1823-02-22 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEBRUARY 21.
• -
At a few eninutet before four the SIMAICIR took the Chair.
Colonel Worn, returned for the County of Dublin, and *-
etre; other Members, took the oaths and their seats.
Papers, containing the Annual Accounts, were laid on the
table by Messengers from the West India Docks and the Car-
nage Claims' Companies.—Ordered to be printed.
-Knufrns of the number of prisoners in the County Jail of
Surrey, and in the King's Bench Prison, were also. presented,
and ordered to be printed.
This being the last day for presenting Petitions fol. leave to
bring in Private Bills, the House was occupied with business of
that nattfre till nearly five o'clock.
A new Writ was ordered for the Borough of Reigate, the
Ifon...Tohn Somers Cox having accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.
Dlr. GOOCH presented a Petition from the Owners of land in
Suffolk complaining of Agricultural Distress. Laid on the table.
Mr. W. WHITMORE presented a Petition from the Pecu-
liars, &c. of Bridgenorth against certain parts of the Marriage
Act —Laid on the table.
Mr. CURTEIS presented a Petition from certain Hop
Planters in Sasses, complaining of the Hop Duty. The Hon.
Member observed that he thought there was abundance of
means of relief fur the present distress of the Agriculturists. He
considered that this class had been sacrificed by the Opposition
at the shrine of popularity, and their interests merged in the cry
of no taxes and cheap bread.—Ordered to be printed.
A Petition was presented from Tewkesbury against the In-
solvent Debtors' Act ; and one from Pomfret, against the
Ilawkers and Pedlars' Act.—Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. 11. DAVIS presented a- Petition from Bristol, praying
foratotal repeal of the Assessed Taxes.—Laid on the table.
Mr. L. KECK presented a Petition from the Earl of Stam-
ford, against certain parts of the Marriage Act.—Ordered to
lie on the table.
Mr. HUME gave notice of a -motion for Monday, for a va-
riety of Returns relative to the Assexed 'Faxes.
Lord MILTON presented a Petition from Sheffield against
the Inrly-nt-Debtors Act. —Laid on the table.
110? DOT!.
••
:Sir F. KNATCHBULL presented several Petitions from
the flop Planters of different places in the C ounty of Kent,
complain/et of the grievous operation of that tax. The Hon.
Baronet could not allow himself to present all these Petitions
without calling the attention of the House to the situation of
the Petitioners, as participators in the distress which at present
pressed upon all persons connected with the cultivation of the
land. Ile considered their-case entitled so far to the considera-
tion of the flouw, that if it did not encounter the opposition of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he should think it his duty to
move for the appointment of a Committee to take cognizance
of the subject matter of these Petitions. Ile hoped the Right
Ilon. Gentleman Would acquaint hint with his sentiments upon
this proposition.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he was
norprepared to give an off-hand opinion upon a subject of so
much importance. He would go so far as to say that he did
not see the immediate necessity of appointing a Committee to
inquire into the particular situation of that portion of the Agri-
culturists concerned in the cultivation of hops : but he could nut
pledge himself to take one course or another upon such a pro-
position being made. The llonourable Baronet would leave
him an opportunity of stating his opinion upon his motion fur a
Committee.
Sir K NATCII BULL then observed, that if the Right
honourable Gentltn'an did nor hold out• hopes of- relief to this
Wass of individuals in his forthcoming speech, he'should move
for a Committee to take these Petiti(c.is into consideration.
The Petitions were read, and ordered to be printed.
H Mart) ft Ds!! IRE PETI norz.

Mr. PTIICE, in presenting the Petition of the County of
Hereford, b:gged to state to the I louse the circumstances which
were connected with that Petition. It was agreed to at a Meet-
ing regularly convened of the Freeholders of the County, which
Neeting he might fairly say originated with per3ons who had
been accustomed to give their unlimited support to Government.
They were itolecial io set en foot a Petition out of regard for
.the distress which everywhere prevailed, and pressed upon the
.inductry of the country. A Petition had been prepared of a
different nature from that which he then held in his hand; but
for reasons which obtLinett weight frost what occurred after the
opening of the Meeting, that was airitbdrawn; and there re-
ruined only the Petition Of,Mr. Charlton, and that of Mr. Cob-
butt. lie, was enabled decidedly to declare, that the bleedirg
was in favour of that of Mr. Charlton, and he had the sanction
of the I.ord Lieur‘tiant fer saying this; and also, chat this Teti
Lion was trot to he regarded as the Petition. of the undersigned 'I
only, but of the County at large. This Petition, no doubt, con-
I
tained much obnoxious matter to his Majesty's Government ;
and it would be matter of surprise, that when it was read, not'
a single supporter of Government was found to raise his voice
against it. Indeed, so much the reverse, that they were seen
waving their hats, when it was decided that the Petition was
adopted. At the same time, he was willing to admit, that this
conduct of the partizans of Government might bear the con-
struction, that it was owing to the defeat of the other Petition—
(/fear, hear).—Yet he hoped his Majesty's Ministers would
believe that the adherents of Government were ready to cen-
sure them for what had passed, although desirotis still to lend
their support. He must say, that if no relief were administered
to the suffering Agricuhurists of the Cotmtry, Governinent
'must expect from no quarter to meet with greater opposition
than from those who had hitherto given them their unlimited
support-(Star,fr.ear).-The Petition was then read, laid on
the table, and ordered to be printed.,
CASE OF PRIVATE HARDSHIP.
Lord FOLKESTONE rose fur the piwpose of presenting a
Petition from an individual of the name of Thomson, to which,
as he considered his a case of peculiar hardship, he wished to
diaw the particular attention of the House. However different
Weight be the opinion of Gentlemen, as to the mode to be pur.
. seed to afford relief to this individual, he was sure that, when
they had attended to his case, they would see that something
ought to be done for him. He had formerly given notice that
be would move for a Committee on this subject, but as the
Boo* was anxious to proceed that night to other business, be
would not do anything that could provoke discussion, but merely
state the case, and he hoped Honourable Gentlemen would at-
tend to it, and, befbre the day of his motion came, consider in
their*** minds whether it was nor one which dent-armed redress.
Mary years ago Mr. Thomson was a wine-merchant connected.
with the Oporto trade, in which he realised a considerable Capi-
tal. :In IW)7 he laid out a great part of thii in .the purchase of
land, and *among other porchases,.he bought an estate in Here-
fordshire, which, with what he had expended in improvement,.
cost him' £70;000. lie also biorght the estate of Thornhaugh, in
Ilectfordshire,for which he paid down the deposit of
His Solicitor, however, upon examining the title deeds of this'
estate, &dared theM to be bad, mid Mr. Thomson then brought
an action against the vend:r for the deposit money. The vender
obtained the aid of the Lord Chancellor, to stop the action, and
after a Chancery lifigathin sip to the year 1819, the Vice-Chan-
cellor determined against the Petitioner, that the title was good.
During this time the *ender was in poisession of the estate, and
took the rents. Upon accounting for these, however, it appeared
that there tins a balance against the Petitioner for law expenses
of f-66,009. Meanwhile,. commercial distress and subsequent
failure bad overtakn Mr. Thomson. He mortgaged both estates,
and paid the intereit'of the debt to the vender, and last year had
paid off i 60019 of the principal. In 192.1 both estates were put
sap for sale. For orie*Wrifferikl £9,000, Whfch was refuted,
and for the othit nothnit Was bid. Mr. thtftriton became tt
bankrupt, and the vender now iptill4d to the Lord Chatitedor
to be altbwed to take posseseion-Of both estates in lien of the
debt: tr. Thomson had paid X18;501), and enjoyed the estates
may two years—X4ooo was all be had got for his purchase, and
now he Was abotit to lose both. The Vender, on the'other hand,
bad had posseision (title estates (except from the year 1819 to
1821), had received i 18,500, and was now about lei obtain
both the estates. This *es the case he had to state, and it would
be seen that the hardship 'arose from the delay of the la* and
the depreciation of land. Ha hoped the House would bear it in
mind, with a view of fupishing relief.--The Petition was then
read, and ordered to lie on the table.
SUPPLY—NAVY.
On the motion of the CHAI.MELLOR of the ExGaa.
Quilt, the House resolved itself into a Coauttittio
of Supply.
Sir JOHN OSBORN rose, to move for a vote of
men and money for the sea service of the year. It
could be necessary for him to say but new words, as
the Estimates of what he was about to ask a supply,