Star.
London, England, 1823-05-31 00:00:00

PAIIL.I .4 31 ENT A ity PROCEEDINGS.

HOL'SR OF LORDS, MAY 30.
This being the first day of Trinity Term, no Appeals were
heard; and the Loan CitANCI3.I.OS, gave notice that Counsel
would not be cal!ad in before twelve o clock on IMenday next.
Within five minutes to four o'clock the Earl of Snaeresauns-,
the Loan CIIANCZLI.OR, and Viscount Mat-tette took Omit: seats
befere the Throne, robed as Lords Commissioners for notifying
and declaring his Majesty's Assent to divers Bills agreed ta3 be-
tween both Houses, and soon after the Yeoman Usher of the
Pack Hod returned with tare SPEAKZO of the Commons, and
several of the Members.
When the Commission, which was signed by the King him-
*if this day at Westminster, had been read, the Royal Awent
Was given, in the customary way, to the following Bills :
namely—the Ireland Commercial Intercourse, County Trea-
surers, and Charitable'Loans Societies BiUs, the Profane Cursing
end Swearing Act (19th Geo. II.) Amendment Bill, the Shad-
well Church Expenses Dill, the Worcester Improvement Bill,
the Greenwich Police Bill, the Paisley Gas Light Bill, the Wool-
wich Gas Light Bill, the City and Suburbs of York Gas Light
Ihll, the Bermondsey Improvement Bill, the Ely Drainage Bill,
eieven+Road Hills, the Cambridge (King's Collegeand Clare Ball)
Lands Exchange Bill, Gor:,als Police, and some Private Bills.
Sir ' Joint Boeuuav, Dl r. Cu ETWYND, Lord STANLOY, Sir
lbStfit GSAIIASI, and others, brought up the Masters and Ap-
prentices Bill, the Skipton Water Supply Bill, and also tom
Road Bills, which were afterwards read a first titne-
Mr. Towles, front the Treasury, delivered the Fifth Report
of the Commissioners of (Treasury) inquiry, and also some Re-
turns with regard to Malt.
Mr. Cox, from the Great Sessions in Wales, delivered some
Returns from the Counties of Montgomery and Denbigh.
Mr. AlsZee, front the East India House, delivered the An-
neal Accounts of the Company's Receipts and Expenditure.
The Eari of ROCKSAV AGE presented a Petition from the
Inhabitants of the Town of Cambridge, praying for a total Abo-
lition of the Slave Trade.
. Tht. LORD CHA SCELLOR said, that it might probably
he in the recollection of their Lordship; that he had, during the
Let Session, on more than one occasion, took the liberty of calling
their attention to the subject of the Bankrupt Laws ; and, in
SO doing, that he had promised to propose some measure for the
amending and consolidation of those laws. lie had to inform
'their Lordships that the Bill for that purpose was now ready,
but upon reading some of the clauses, which might perhaps be
construed to interfere with a paiticular jurisdiction of the other
House, though he was prepared to submit the Bill to their Lord-
ships, It should originate, if possible, with the Muse of Com-
mons. In general the Bill already bad his approbation, and he
, hoped that the whole of the Bankrupt Laws might hereafter be
consolidated in one Bill. lie believed the Bill would get into
the House melt week ; but if it should not originate 'bee soon,
he must be under the necessity of presenting it to their Lordships,
in redemption of the pledge he formerly gave. He had thought
it proper to notice this subject at the present time, that their
Lordships might not suppose that he bad forgotten the Bill.
The Northampton and the Oakhampton Gas Light Bills were
read a third time, passed, and messaged to the other House.
At about six o'clock, upon the motion of the Earl of SIIATTILS-
IVRY, the House adjourned to Monday next.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A few minutes before four o'clock the House was summoned
to attend the House of Lords to bear the Royal Assent giveti by
Commission to several Public and Private Inds.
A Person from the Treasury presented the Fifth Report of
the Commissioners of Inquiry.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. Ilasoe, fruni.the Feist- ineliaCompany, presented certain
Returns relative to the sale of goods and merchandise.—Or-
dered to lie on the table, and be printed,* •
-Mr. WALTER presented an Account of Registers of the Court
of Chancery.—Ordered to lie on the table, and he printed.
Sir W. ROWLEY presented a Petition against the Duty on
Coals.—Brought up, read, and ordered to lie on the table and
be printed.
Mr. CURWEN presented two Petitions front Parishes in
Cumberland against Colonial Slavery.—Btought up, read, and
ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. CREEVEY postponed his motion relative to the Four
and a Half Per Cents. till M..eday, out which occasion he said he
would move it as an amendment to the motion for going into the
Committee of Supply.
Mr. IiOIiIIOUSE presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of Camber well, praying that the privilege of the Rules of the
King's Bench might be abolished.—Brought up, read, and or-
dered to lie on the table.
Mr. KENNEDY moved that there be laid before the House
an account of certain Correspondence between Government and
the Postmaster-General, relative to the establishment of Packets
between Portpatrick and Aberdeen.
Mr. MAX WELL presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of Middlesex and Surrey in favour of passing a Bill to empower
Magistrates to fix a minimum of wages. The lion. Member
observed, that as there seemed a disinclination in the House to
favour such a proposition, he would only move that the Petition
be read.—Brought up, read, and ordered to lie on the table.
A Message from the Lords announced that their Lordships
had assented to some Private Bills without any amendments.
MACHINERY.
Mr. ATTWOOD presented a Petition from certain
Weavers resident in Stockport, praying for a Bill to
be passed to establish a minimum of wages; and also
complaining of the use of machinery in manufactories.
Mr. PHILLIPS said, that from all the inquiries
Le Lad made he was inclined to think that the evils
complained of were much exaggerated. It was true
that wages were low, but so weie provisions. That
at least was the case when he was last in Lancashire,
v.lien it was impossible for any one to deny that the
woikman was in a comfortable state. On the sub-
ject of machinery, he thought that the cotton manu-
facturer had been improved in his situation by its in.
troduction. He wac satisfied that if Parliament acted
according to the wishes of the Petitioners on that sub-
" kct, the result would not only be injurious to the
general interests of the country, but of particular dis-
advantage to themselves. •
Mr..CUP_Vs'Elsl surported the prayer of the peti-
tion.
Ile wished to remind the House that some
years ago a Committee had been appointed by the
House to consider the subject of a minimum.of wages,
and that 44) delegates, a ho had been appointed from
the mantitacruiii:g districts, had gone away impressed
v:ith the incooveniehce of such a measure.
Mr. G. BENNET said that a work had been pub-
lished by Mr. Cobbett on the subject of machinery,
-which had been widely circulated. If there was any
Gentleman present who had not read it, he would
recommend it tn that Gentleman's attention as the
most useful publication that bad yet appeared on the
subjebt of machinery.
Sir I. COFFIN said he -.vas very certain that if ma-
. cliinery were abolished in this country, a great pro-
portion of the population would starve.
Mr. RICARDO said, that we ought not to forget
• that we were working for the great community of
nations, and not for ourselves alone. The value of
labour, like everything else, must depend on the re-
lati:.n between the supply and the demand. With.
out proper caution, machinery, he thought, injurious;
but, having been established, it would now be use-
less to discontinue it, for other nations would not fol-
losi the example.
Mr. bfAXWELL hoped that this Petition would
be attended to. Ile hoped that the Right Honour-
able Gentleman. opposite n ould postpone his Bill lot
the repeal of the Spitalfi. ids Act, in order that time
might be given for its. consideration.
Mr. PHILLIPS and Mr. RICARDO explained
and time Petition was ordered to lie on the table and
be printed.
Mr. SCARLETT moved that the Order of the