Star.
London, England, 1831-03-04 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, 31Ariczt 3.

'1'I:e• 12.000,0001. Exchequer Bills' Bill was read a third time. The
,:her bills on their Lordship.' table were forwarded a stage.
The Consolidated Fund Bill and the Appropriation Bill were read
the second time.
A petition was presented from St. Paul's, Covent-garden parish for
the repeal ~1 the house and window taxes.
.91,0n1 HACH E presented a petition from the Rev. George Bliss
ekratll2ll, pra' ing their Lordships to introduce a clause in the
Church•building UM. for the protection of his rights. The petitioner
:omplad ed that the Commissioners under the Act for building new
Churchts had lute, fered with his right ro the nomination of a Chapel
near Chichester, and if the hill haute their Lordships passed into a
law wi.F.••ut amendment in his favour, he would have no opportunity of
obtaining his rights,
Ilisbop of CHICHESTER said, about five years ago a Mr.
Baker buil• a chapel two miles front Chichester, and three miles from
the Mother Church. He was requested to consecrate it, but he told
Mr. Baker he could not do it. without the consent of Mr. Bliss, the
Incumbent of the parish church. The Church Building Act passed
•oon after. and the Right Reverend Prelate left Mr. Baker to settle
:he question with the Commissioners under that Act; that was all the
part he had taken in the transaction.
The Duke of RICHMOND said the Chapel bad been of essential
service to the parish.—The petition was laid on the table.

)RKACH OF

Lord FARNHAM said it was with great reluctance he brought
before their Lordships a case in which he was personally concerned,
Sut feeling that every Peer in that House was more or less interested
in the same, he could not withhold his information respecting a gross
breach of privilege. The Noble Lord was proceeding to state that he
had received threatening letters from Ireland, when—
Earl GREY suggested the propriet; of excluding strangers.
All petsons below the bar were consequently ordered to withdraw,
Ind the noble lord's complaint wits heatd with closed doors.
W.. understand that the noble lord bad been threatened with violence
consequence of his observations, some days since, upon Lord Rung's
:notion respecting the Wexford union.

_
REFORM.
On our re-admission to the House, we found the Earl of CARNAR-
VON on his legs, presenting a petition for Reform in Parliament. The
Noble Earl observed, that the plan proposed in another branch of the
Legislature, did not appear to him to be Reform, but the plan of a new
Constitution.—(llear.) If the Constitution was really worn out, it
.night be necessary to adopt a new plan, but being of opinion that was
not the case, he should be prepared to enter his protest against all that
was wild and visionary. A Noble Friend intended to give notice of
his intention to bring the subject .before the house at an early day,
therefore it might be desirable, to abstain from going into discussion
until the proper time.
Earl GREY considered the Noble Earl right, in abstaining from dis.
anion upon the presentation of a petition. He should follow the Noble
Earl's example, and say but little on the great 'question. To the prayer
et the petition he not only gave his assent, hut would endeavour to pre.
•note the prayer of the petitioners. The Noble Lord had been pleased
to say it was nos a plan of reform, but a new constitution. To such a
representation of the character of the measure, for which he, in common
with his colleagues, was responsible—against such a character
given to the measure, he muse enter his decided protest.—( Hear.)
/Its Majesty's Government were not introducing, in the measures they
It'd brought forward, any new constitution. But what they were doing
was of this character, and he should be able to prove it, when the ques-
tion come before the House—not an endeavour to introduce a new con-
stitution, but a recurrence to the principles of the out constitution, by
which means they would restore it to that confidence in the peoples'
minds which it ough. to have. He had always kept that principle in
view In every thing which he had done. He had endeavoured to con-
tort» to that principle in the plan proposed. Upon that principle he
contended that the measure was not the forming of a new constitution,
tut the occurring toan old one, by which the people had fair represen-
talon in Parliament, and of which they had been deprived in later times.
He should be most glad to discuss this question fully at any time, it
Alould please the noble lords to discuss it.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE concurred most cordially with what had
Idle!) from the Noble Earl ; Carnarvon) that the measure brought for.
ward was not Reform but u new Constitution. It was his intention on
Monday next to move for certain returns connected with the population
of counties and towns, at which period he intended to enter fully into
the discussion of the question.
Lord WYNFORD was not so well versed as the Noble Earl (Grey)
in the history of the country, but would undertake to say that the prin-
ciples of the present Retina» Bill were not those on which the ancient
constitution of the country rested. He protested against new doctrines
which altered the foundation of the Constitution. The privilege of
,ending representatives to Parliament was founded on the circumstance
of the parties being the King's tenants, and the intention was that they
should counterpoise the power of the Barons.
Lord KING looked upon the measure brought forward as of greater
interest than any thing that had taken place in the country since the ex-
pulsion of James IL the putting of which was as necessary to pre-
serve the liberties of the country—(Hear)—as the expulsion of the in-
rammed Stuarts. (Hear.) According to the views of the Noble and
Learned Lcrd none ought to sit in Parliament tat tenants of the
Crown. The present Government had done much to benefit the coon.
try. They had proposed Parliamentary Reform. The malverution
in the Admiralty would be brought forward, and before long there
would be an exposure of abuses imthe colonial department.
Lola WYNFORD in explanation said, he had not advanced that
rave but tenants of the King had the right to sit in Parliament.
The Duke of WELLINGTON thought the noble lord who had
motioned malversation in the Admiralty, should have moved for papers
tile subject, in order that the noble lord who was not then in the
!•. 'the might have the opportunity of meeting any charge. His Grace
;,::cw of no malversation during the time he was in office. On a recent
.u; !.ion inquiry was made, and the Government was acquitted of male
suction. With respect to the question of reform, the noble duke did
rot to enter upon the discussion at that time, but on a future day
should expect his Majesty's Ministers, who, on their own respond-
,iiity had brought forward this question, would be prepared to explain
ry that means, the monarchical, and constitutional government of the
celintry could be carried on, according to the principles established at
.ere Revolution.

Th.: Duke of BUCKINGHAM asked his noble kinsman (Lord
Eine) who had brought forward a charge against the late Secretary for
the Colonies, whether he intended to move for papers ; and also he was
J sirota of hearing, from the present Secretary of the Colonies, whether
it was his intention to bring terward any charges ?
Lord KING said he had made no charge of malversation against the
Secrei:.ry of the Colonies.
The Duke of BIICKINGH A '3l rose to speak, when
The Duke of RICH IiOND spoke to order, and observed, that when
noble lord in that house denied a matter applied to him, it was not
,egidar for any noble lord to reply.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM would only ask his noble kinsman
whether he intended to impute malversation to the noble Secretary ?
Lerd KING said, he meant to say there had been a misapplication of
vaur.ey voted by Parliament in the Admiralty and Colonial Depart.
went*. He aid not mean to move for papers.
The Duke of WELLINGTON had no desire to press the Noble
Lord to move for papas, or bring forward a charge of malversation, but
if the noble lord was so scrupulous about moving for papers he should
not have mentioned the subject.
Lord CODER "CH said, he had no intention to prefer any charge of
malversation.
Earl GREY said it was not the wish of his Majesty's present Go.
cerement to throw the slightest censure on the noble persons who had
.iiled the offices alluded to. Although there had been some derange-
.r.cnts in the application of some vote by parliament, he was sure the
. chle lord (Melville) had not been sensible of anything wrong. That
regularities had occurred, there could be no doubt. Money voted for
head of service had been applied to another. With respect to the
,spectation of the noble Duke, he should certainly be prepared to
Prove, when the question came before the House, that the monarchy
and the constitution could he supported under the plan proposed bet-
ter than it was at pro-sent, and that it was not necessary that the dignity
a :he monarchy anti tile constitution should be supported by a system
of corruption.
A NOBLE LORD defended the character of Lord Melville, and
autcnded no man was less liable to be guilty of, or connive at, malver-
sat ion.
Lord BEXLEY defended the measures of the parties to whom the
noble lord's observations applied.
Lord KING explainoi. He only meant to say money voted by
the Parliament for one service, had been applied by the Admiralty to
...r.other•
Earl GREY said he could not justify the misapplication of public
a.ouey.
The conversation then ended.
The Marquis of CLEVELAND, presenting a petition for reform,
declared hitt:self favourable to moderate reform. The petition, which
as from South Shields, anti signed by sixteen thousand people, was
then laid on the table. The Noble Earl, in continuation observed that
he was not prepared to support every species OT plan of reform. He could
truly say, front Radicals and ultra-Tories, " good Lord deliver us."
(a laugh.) Tne Noble Marquis then presented a petition from Gal-
!al', for an extension of the elective franchise, and another from a place
in Dosnshire, for reform.
Lord TETNIIAM presented a petition from certain members of a
Corporation in Dublin, praying for reformation in the corporated bodies
of that city.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented petitions for reform from
Warrington, a place in Buckinghamshire ; and also one from Galway,
for an equalization of civil rights.
Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from a parish in Kent, cons-
,ilauling of heavy taxation, and in a particular manner of the malt tax i
also a petition from a parieh in the mune county, israying for reform in
Kirlia:nent. The noble earl on this subject took occasion to observe,