Star.
London, England, 1814-03-23 00:00:00

C9LOXJAL OFFICES.

Mr. GOLBURN moved tor leave to bring in a
too alter and amend the act of the 22d of the
King, respecting offi-es held by patent in the colo-
ties. By that statute it.-bad been enacted, that no
patent office in the colonies should be held longer
than the person so appointed should reside there. The
advantages were very evident of compelling persons
of thet class to whom such offices were given, to re-
side there and discharge the duties of those offices.
The provisions of the statute were. however, at length
beCome in a great measure nugatory, as those persons
were in the habit of acting by commission, and as
the governors of the colonies had been permitted to
' grant leave.of absence without any restiiction. In
order to m Ike those offices efficient whiCh had lately-
in many instances become sinecures, it was necessary
- to make some alterations in the statute. It was pro-
posed that the Governors should in future be obliged
to make'an annual report of those holding patent of-
fices in the colonies, and not residing there ; as also
of the persons to whom they had given leave of ab-
sence, and the causes of such leave being given.
Mr. BARING wished to know whether the pro-
visions of the bill were to extend to Gibraltar and
Malta?
• bfr..GOLBURN said, that they would extend to
Gibraltar, and also to Malta, that, islaild should
be finilly ceded to this country.
• -Leaite was given, and the bill was immediately
Ist:Ought in and read a first time.—Ordered to be read
a second time on Monday next.
• Tle CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
rose to morA new writ for the Bombe! of Inyer-
nessja the room of Charles GrAnt,Etg, *lto had tn.-
feited his seat from a mistake into whichhilwi
by having taken his seat in that House, without hay-
ing previously taken the oath of allegiance before the
Lord Steward of the Household. His honourable
friend had conceived, that the taking the oaths at the
table of that House was sufficient. As by this inad-
vertency he had forfeited his seat, he should, after the
question of the new writ was disposed of, move for
leave to bring in a bill to indemnify him from the pe-
nalties he had inadvertently incurred,
The question for the new wri; haying been eerried,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
ter!moved for leave ltleaie penal
ve to bring
LnT a bill
addc indemnify
Mr::)VyNNE. ;aid, that he perfectly agreed in
the propriety of grantin4 the indemnity s but 'hie cir.
eurnstance wee an additional reason to convince him
of the importance of the Big that he had brought in
last yeir, for the dispensing with the necessity of
taking the oaths, except in that HOuse. His Bill, in-.
deed, had received the sanction of that House : but
had failed in another place, from some zealous friends
of the Protestint interest being afraid of the possit4-
lity of a Roman Catholic being returned to Parlia-
ment, although the only act that such Roman Carlo-
* could possibly do, without taking the oaths at the
table, was to give a vote for the choice of the Speaker.
• The 14 was then brought i,p, read a Ora wad le.
fond time, and coal cai ttedforto-tootr s -Adjourned.

"fr..014' LAST NIGHT'S QA.ZETTE.
At the Court at Casitoo•lisose, the lath of March, 1814,
Present his Royal Highness the Pantos Rat:sews. in Council,
This day tbe Right Hon. Hugh Elliott was by command of
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the
behalf of his Majesty, sworn of 103 Majesty's Most Honourable
Prlrf Counpil, and took his plats at the Board accordingly.