Star.
London, England, 1813-04-07 00:00:00

Mr. WESTERN thought the speech of the Right
Hon. Gentleman was calculated to support the prehe.r.
motion. He had on a former occasion declared ti
joint-office to be unnecessary, and now expressed a
jealousy of communicating his principal plan of
wa-
nagement to his Colleague. A Select Committee had
likewise pronounced the office to be superfluous; and
in justice to that Committee, and-to the feelings of
the country, the present proposition should be adopted.
If they acted otherwise, it would he to make a moc-
kery of their Committees. The perseverance of h;•
Hon. Friend deserved the applause of the Home.
Mr. LONG said a few words in oplanation.
Mr. CALCRAFT said, he should vote against
motion of his Hon. Friend, not from an opinion
it was cot founded in fact, but because the office wat,
one of those which was expressly enumerated in a
Bill that had passed that House, and was now before
the: Lords, as one of those which ought to be abo-
lished : he therefore thought the mo.ion was, at pre-
sent unnecessary.
Mr. HUSKISSON objected to it on the same
ground. He said the Hon. Gentleman who brenght
it forward assurnad that the Bill just before alluded
to by the last speaker, would not pass the Lords ; but
he (Mr. H.) thought such an assumption was not
warrantable. He could not tell what reason the Ho-
nourable Gentleman might have for his assumption,
but he thought it would be reasonable and right in
that House to suppose always that any Bill sent fram
them would be most likely to pass in the Lords. At
any rate he hoped, from what his Right Friend (Mr.
Long) had stated, that if the office should not be
abolished, it would be consolidated. His' Right Ho-
nourable Friend, in speaking on this subject, had given
it as his opinion, that it would not be a measure of
economy ; but the House should recollect it was one
of those to which the attention of the House had been
called by the Crown itself as among the matters of
economy; and he (Mr. H.) was of opinion, that if
properly managed in any future regulation, it might
be made such It was certainly deserving the conti-
nued attention of the House, though he did not con•
ceive there was a necessity for the present omits at
this particular moment.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he so far differed from
the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, that be
was not at all surprised his Hon. Friend should have
again brought on his Motion, from despairing as he
clid that the Bill lately sent tip from that House would
pass the House of Lords. He believed :as Hon.
Friend was not the only one who entertained that
ipiiaion; and as he had the measure very much as
heart, it was very natural for him to pursue the plan
he had now adopted. He hoped, however, while he
did not exactly agree in opinion with his Hon. Friend
on the point of pressing the motion at this exact mo-
ment, he should be able to prevail with him to give
it op for the present. He believed there was no ra-
tional and impartial man, who did not perceive that
this office had originally been split into two, for the
purpose of increasing Parliamentary interest ; and
many of those who now objected to proceed by Ad-
dress at present, still thougot that should be done if
the Lnrds rejected the Bill now before them. If his
Hon. Friend persisted in-his present motion, and it
should he negatived, he would not be able to bring
it forward again during the present Session. ifs
therefore hoped his Hon. Friend would no: .6 throw
away his shot," but would reserve it for afuture occa-
sion, when lie might be able to m Ate it t.• 11 more
effectually. He would, therefore, advise hart to with-
draw his present motion ; and then, if the Bill now
before the Lords should be rejected, he would have
it in his power to bring it forward again towards the
close of the Session, when he ( Mr. W.) had not a
doubt it would receive the support of many Hon.
Members, who now opposed it from tne same motives
as those assigned by the two Gentlemen who spoke
last before him.

Mr. CREEVEY said, that in conformity to, and
acquiescence in, the opinion of his Hon. Friend who
had just sat down, he would. with the leave of the
House, withdraw his present motion. In the mean
time he would watch the Bill, so often alluded to,
during its progress through the Lords.
The motion was then allowed to be withdrawn.
TIM BANKRUPT LAWS.

Mr. LOCK HA ItT;;;;;;c bring forward his mo-
tion on the subject of the Bankrupt Laws. He per-
fectly agreed in the excellency of the principle of our
Bankrupt Laws ; but still, in his opinion, they called
for some revisions, as the benefits conferred on bank-
rupts were such as to induce many persons to exert
themselves to get within their operations ; since it
was not only the industrious and unfortunate trades-
man who was entitled to the benefit of those statutes,
but also the most profligate and dishonest part ot
mankind ; he therefore thought it should be more
clearly defined what sort of persons should have the
benefit of these laws. He was fully persuaded, that
the almost indiscriminate grant of the certificate to
all descriptions ot persons, was a great encour .gemeat
of extravagant profligacy, and in shr.rt of a ufr•it
trend upon the creditor. To remedy this evil, h.
thought the examination of the bankrupt should be
differently conducted to what it is ; inquiry so iuld he
.
made as to the manner in which he had lived ; and it
it should appear that he had lived es ni spoliator of
his creditors, n. t only should he not have the bank-
rupts' allowanc-, but he should also be refusea his cer-
ficate; if on the .•.intrary, it should appear that iiisti..ok-
ruptcy was the result ot unavoidao:e misfortune, n.*
only should he lave his certificate, but he bnoull also
have a certificate of honesty, and the Bank. upt's al-
lowance should be increased. The Honourable Gil-
tleman then proceeded to state, in his .qesit•n.
the laws as Ohl at present stood, tended to encourage
.raud ; fictitious debts wire set irk), and tt a udly doc-
Kets were struck, and t•ther species frauJ were
practised ; and to show the trivia of this as.ertion, he
read
.an extract frow Air. Gurney's speech on the