Star.
London, England, 1831-03-15 00:00:00

CALICO DUTIES.

On the motion of Lord AUCKLAND, the Calico Duties Draw-
back Repeal Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Army Mutiny Dill was read a third time and passed.
VANIAUPTCV BILL. _ _

Lord WINFORD rose, Weviou; to the order of the day for
going into Committee on the Lord Chancellor's bill to regulate pro-
ceedings in bankruptcy, and expressed a strong desire to postpone
the committee until their lordships could insure the attendance of a
noble and learned lord (Eldon) there, and that of the noble and
learned Chief Baron who was upon the service of the counlry. He
thought the absence of those noble persons would induce their
lordships to accede to the motion it was his ir.tention to propose.
The noble and learned lord had not been able to consider the pro-
posed measure in all its details. It might be calculated to do a deal
of good, hut it could not do that good unless it were materially
altered. When they recollected the importance of the subject to
which it referred, it was impossible for any one to say they were
not bound to proceed with the greatest caution. As the bill wood,
it would clash with an act passed in the Gth year of the late King,
which regulated all matters of bankruptcy, and no doubt produce
one of those evils for which they would have to find a remedy. This
bill also swept away seventy coniniissioners of bankruptcy ; and after
what he had heard upon the subject, his hope was that it might not
pass before they received the assistance of the Lord Chief Baron.
the Bill got rid of 70 officers, but the Judges and Clerks proposed
by the bill would increase the expense to the amount of at least 4,0001.
annually. His noble and learned friend hail said it would be no loss to
the country, but come out of the Chancery Fund. He (Lord Wyn-
ford) should protest against that mode of payment. The Chancery
Fund was the property of suitors in Chancery, and inviolable. The
bill required further consideration. He objected to the constitution of
the new Bankrupt Court. It would bear no resemblance to any Court
in England. Ten Judges were to be appointed to dispose of one branch
of the law ; ten Judges at the same time would do all the other legal
business of the country. The noble and learned lord considered five
judges equal to all the duties in bankruptcy. If right in that view of
the subject, they might lop off five Judges, and save the country
10,0001. a year. Haying urged several other objections, the noble and
learned lord concluded by moving that the bill be committed on the
15th of April.
' The LORD CHANCELLOR observed that his noble and learned
friend, still in possession of his able faculties, had come down to that
House with a skilful attempt in the outset to get rid of the measure.
His noble friend disdaining the gallant practice of moving the Bill be
committed that day three months, which was the open and fair way of
getting rid of it, had moved that it be committed that day four weeks,
which had the same effect in a cunning ways His noble friend in that
respect hail acted like the cunning nisi prius advocate he had once
known him. His noble friend wished to postpone the bill in the eh-
semi of two noble lords, neither of wham had expressly objected to
the measure. He was able to make a fair and candid allowance for
the absence of any noble lord, but could not consent to postpone
the bill to the period proposed. Ills reason for avoiding the' de-
lay was founded upon this circumstance. The Seventy Commission-
ers of Bankrupts who were to be swept away were active comtnen-
tators on the bill, and were taking means in and out of that House '
to destroy his bill. In order to defeat the bill he had been be-1
sieged by counsel, attorneys, aunts, wives, cousins, nephews,
cum multi., (this. (A laugh.) He was still exposed to siege,
atom and sack. He was attacked every way in which a fortress would
be taken or starved out. His noble friend at last tried the blockading
system, and was desirous of putting back the bill to the 15th of April,
which would operate as a death-blow. He could not pass over the ob.
jections of his noble friend, who had attacked his measure upon a total
forgettulness of all he had stated. With a well-feigned jealousy of the
public purse, his noble friend had endeavoured to ruin the bill by as-
sating that it would increase the public expense. Instead of a loss,
there would he a clear saving to the public of 15,0001. a year, and if he
was not much mistaken, the saving would he 20,0001. He denied that
there was 'he least intention to touch one farthing of the suitors' fund
in the Court of Chancery. With respect to the number of judges, he
at first supposed with his noble friend, that five might be sullizient for
the business; but upon taking the advice of all who were most competent
to know the tact, it appeared that the number could not be less than ten.
The noble and learned lord went on to tiefend the principle of the men.
sure before the house ; the judges to be appointed in lieu of the coin-
,nissioners of bankrupts would not be judges merely—they would
]assess an administrative, as well as a judicial, character. He should
not have detained their lordships so long, but .hat he was anxious to
prevent any erroneous impression from going forth, in consequence of
his noble and learned friend's speech, and he should only observe fur.
then, that if the measure were not carried, and for which it ought to be
recollected that 4,500 of the most respectable bankers, merchants, and
traders of the City of London had petitioned, it world carry con-
sternation and dismay throughout the whole trading interest of the
metropolis, however much satisfaction and delight it might give to
those whose salaries it was intended should be saved to the country by
the measure.
After a few words front Lord MANNERS, which were inaudible
below the bar,
Lord WYNFORD characterised the attack of the noble and learned
lad on the woolsack as unmanly. In the most distinct manner he,