Star.
London, England, 1801-03-14 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Colonel AqT I. EY peefnt. d a Petizion frum the Debtor%
in Norwich Cad. which was received, and urder‘d to
lie on the 'rah:,

I.cave of AVCIICe wzg ?ranted to feveral Nlembcrs.

New Write were ordered for the Borough of Callingtret, in
the room t.t Sir Jour CALL, Baronet, deceafed; and for the
City of Oxford, in the room of FRANCIS Pecs, Efq. who has
accepted the office of St.:ward of the Chiltern Hundreds.
',cave of abfence wae granted to Mr. Coitc to attend the
The: f.n.d Al:Lacs.

Report of the Bill for the entreafe of the bounties on the
Importation of Grain, was agreed to, :aid the Bill ordered to
be read a third time on Monday.
The ?sfutiny and Marine Bills were ft:re:ally read a third
time, paff:d, and ordered to be carried to the Lorda for their
concurrence.

CROYDON CANAL RILL.

On the fecond reading of the Croydon Canal Bill,
Mr. Ti E stir Y begged leave to call the attention
of the Houle to the Bill, as to a meafure which de-
manded their molt fcrious conficleration. He had
prefenteel a Petition againft it from the Owners
and Occupiers of Mills on the river Wandle, who
conceived that their intercfts might be moll mate-
rially afrceted thereby, and not only thcir interelts,
but thole of the metropolis itfelf, fince this molt
valuable river was one of the principal fources of
fupply to London, and certainly the molt conßant
and regular. It was never frozen up in the fe-
verell teafons, the value of the mills and manufac-
tories eftablilhed upon it was immenfe. He was
lure that he fpoke within compafs 'when he efli-
mated them at half a million. This was a Bill
therefore of the molt ferious importance, and he
role now, not to objet to the fecond reading of it,
but to intreat Gentlemen to attend to it in its pro-
grefs. The Petitioners might have laid in their
claim to be heard at the bar of the Houfe againft
the principle, becaufe they did not fee how they
could be proteded by any claufes againft the
danger with which it was pregnant ; but to thew
that they did not defire to °hied to the Bill, ca-
priciontly and without reafon, they were willing to
agree to the fecond reading, that it might go into
the Committee, and be there difculfed. So that if
any fecurity could he given to this river, the Mill-
owners might withdraw their oppotition. For this
purpofe, it would be neceffary that their Petition
Ihnuld be referred to the Committee, and that an
order fhould be made to hear them by their coun-
fd, agents and witneffes, againft the fame. And
he mull again entreat Gentlemen to give their at-
tendance in the Comm:ace upon the difcuflion, as
this meafure was very different from that of an
ordinary canal 1•;,11._

Lord WILLIAM RusssLL fitid, that he perfealy
acquiefced with the Honourable Gentleman in re-
gard to the immenfe value of the mills and, ma-
nufaCtories on the river Wandle, and of the high
res..peaability of the Petitioners againft the Bill.
A o river in the kingdom maintained fo many mills,
and of equal value, within fo fhort a fpace—and
lie ftid, that unlefs it could be proved that the
propofed Canal might he eflablifhed and main-
tamed without injury to the river Wandle, he cer-
tainly should not give it his fupport. He was glad,
therefore, that they were to go into the Commit
tee, to fee if the interefts of the Petitioners could
be protcaed.
Mr. JOLLITY'S and Mr. NICHOLLS fald each a
few words in favour of the Bill, which they were
convinced would not be injurious to the river
Wandle.
The Bill was then read a fecond time and com-
mitted. The Petition of the Mill-owners was re-
ferred to the Committee, and an Order made for
both parties to be heard upon it. '

THE ►OOR HOUSEHOLDERS RELIEF }ILL.
Lord W. RUSSELL moved the Order of the D.iy
for a Committee of the whole Houfe on the above
Bill.

After a few words from Sir JOHN WROTTE3LEY,
who opprifed the Speaker's leaving the Chair,
Mr. VA% SITTAR T thought it highly improper
that perfons exempted from the payment of Poors
Rate on accoui't of their poverty, fhould be al-
lowed unicr the Bill to vote at the Eleaion of
Members of that Houk. The Bill appeared to
him to:ally unnecetrary, inafmuch as perfons un-
able to pay Poors Rae, might at the prefent mo-
ment receive every =diary relief, the Magifirates
already a&ing upon the principle contained in the
Bill.

Mr. Jot Lars conceived as the Noble Lord had
perfevcced in his meafure, though the withes of
the Hr,...fe had appeared to be on the contrary
tide, it would be hut decent and proper to allow
the Bill to go to a Committee.
Sir W. Eiroen was of opinion the meafurc pro.
pofed by the Noble Lord was already by ettltom
carried into and therefore he thould vote
again(' it, conceiving its introduction unneceffary.
Mr. HrNL't LA scELLr.s laid a few words.
Mr. Simi t.a was convince,l tin Noble Lord in
brioaing forward the meafurc, had no doubt of
.ts ti:ility. Ile, however, was not equally con-
vincl 1: had been afTerted, thzt Overfeers could
at any time obtain a Warri.nt of Diftrefs from a
Nti:Arate, who was Inund to grant it, for the
parprfe of feizing the goods of perfons for non-
payin;:ilt of Poors .Rate. This was not the faCt, 1
M.igiarates poLeiled in thefe cafes an uncontrol.
able diferetion to e.,:amine in:o Ltas, and to d. -
ea: upon the procrirty of grateino Warrant! 'of
He d. prec.irfal, therer:4-c . the meiiit r.
it'dr.;‘,4l;:.! a de' lii.e bs the .1 beil.ry
11,4;:c bou:..,*;• the ;. aoL . the ju9.ice

the Magiftrate, and deciding in general terms—
where relief Should be granted and where not, con-
ceiving the uncontrolable difcretion of Magiftrates
infinitely preferable. He thought it a dangerous
principle to admit, that perfons receiving relief
tom the parifh in any way whatever Should !till
be allowed to exereife their elective franchife. He
thought it would be Paving the time of the Houfe
not to go into the Committee.
Mr. MAI I:WARING faid, he was furprifed any doubt
Should have arifen as to the practice purfued in the
relief granted to paupers. If a Magiftrate ordered
any relief to be given to a pauper, the Overfeer
was bound to obey the order, without annexing
any condition whatever. The only cafe in which
the Ovcrfcer was juflified in feizing the goods of
a pauper, was when he left his wife and family
chargeable to the parifh. Magiftrates never did
isruc Warrants of Diftrefs without an inveftigation
of the circumftances of each cafe, and tv.krerer
they were fatistied the perfon again(' whom the
Warrant was required was really unable to pay
the rate, an exemption was uniformly granted.
Mr. ROSE quoted a late Aa to prove, that Ma-
gifirates were ful:y empowered to grant relief to
perfons, the produce of whore labour was unequal
to their maintenance, equivalent to two gallon
loaves per week.
Colonel BUXTON thought it highly improper
that a Bill Should exprefsrfy Rate any clafs of per-
iOns, either paying rent of} five or ten pounds, or
more, for exemption from Poors Rate, a general
principle of exemption depending upon the circum-
ftances of each cafe was alwaNs to be preferred.
Lord WM. RUSSELL defended the Bill. Over- I
feces, it had been laid, would not dare to difonvy
an order of a Magi flrate to grant relief to a pauper,
though that pauper might be in the poffeflion of
'goods ; but he would At, what hlagiftrate would
dare to make an order for the relief of any perfon
as a pauper poffeffed of the ie.& property ? lie
quoted an opinion of Lord Kenyon, to (hew that
Magiftrates had no aeration in granting War-
rants of Diftrefs for non-payment of Poors Rate,
..at might be compelled to do fo by a Mandamus.
Mr. 'ROSE and Mr. MAINWARINO fevcrally ex-
plained.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL condemned the mca-
fure ; lie did not know, he laid, any thing more
injurious to law than that pruriency of legillation
which he Saw too prevalent. He contended, that
Magiftrates already poffeffed a difcretionary power
relative to Warrants of Diftrefs. He was of opi-
nion, that under the 43d Elizabeth, relief could
not be granted to any perfon poffeffed of property,
and therefore the alternative was given to per-
lons applying for parochial relief, either to fore-
go that, or fell whatever goods they might hap-
pen to poffefs, but that Overfeers had no right
whatever to feize thofe goods.
Mr. CHARLES DUNDAS expreffcd Come doubts re-
lative to the opinion declared by the Attorney-
General, and allied for a pofitive opinion of the
Learned gentleman, whether a Magiftrate was
empowered to grant relief to a perfon poffeffed of
a cottage and an acre of land, without compelling
him to fell them ?

The ATTORNEY GENERAL thought, that under
the 43d of ,Elizabeth, the Magiflrate was not cm.
powered; but that under a late Ad, quoted by
the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Rofe) he was. Ile did
not, however, give this as a pofitive opinion.
Mr. CHARLES DVNDAS explained.
Mr. WHITBREAD defended the Bill. He thought
the doubts of the Learned and Honourable Gen-
tleman formed a fufficient reafon for going into a
Committee upon a Bill, the object of which was to
fettle the Law upon the fubjeft. If there were
doubts of the powers of Ovcrfccrs and of Magill
tratcs, why not make an enactment which fhotthl
do away all thofe doubts, and prevent all difputes?
He adverted to what he conceived to be the inecna-
venience of the Law Of Satlement, by which fa-
milies who had lived in comfort in their cottages,
but who, under the preffure of the times, had been
compelled to apply for' a little temporary relief,
were fubjeaed to the hardfhip of being removed
to places where perhaps they could find no hovel
to hide their heads; and hinted his intention of
propoling a Ciao& in the Committee to remedy
this evil.

Mr. Jot'Nsrows oppofed the lioufc going into
a Committee.

Mr. Thecae thought the doubts exiiiing upon
the fubjett formed a good reafon for going into a
Committee.

The Houfe then divided—For the Qt_teltion 35
—Againft it 35.
The Sr EA IC tit gave his calling vote in favour of
the.. Committee.

On our return to the Gallery, we fuund the
Hot.fe in a Committee on the Bill, Mr. Grey in
the Ct.air.
Mr. SrEXCER PERCEVAL hopcd the Noble Lord
(William Rua') would introduce a clanfe to
prevent Orel fezis having undue influence in Elec-
tions, in confecitience of this Bill; and the Noble
Lord adopted tfic fuggeflion. •
Several claufes were then introduced by Lord
William Ruffel, Mr. Wilberforce, and Mr. Bux-
ton, which were &malty agreed to, after fume
converfation from Mr. Shaw Lefevre, Mr. Buxton,
Mr. Whitbread, the Speaker, Mr. Braggc, Mr.
Spencer Perceval, Mr. Tierney, and Mr. Wil-
berforce.

Lord Wazt.tma Rusmt. introduzcd a claufe to
prevent perfons relieved under tLisl34llfrombeing
again chprgeable by the fame parilli.—Agreed to.
Mr. Tit RN Ey brought up the clank fitggclted by
Mr. P,.ceval, refpefting Overfeers; 'which w4s
a-
greed to. ' I '
During the dircuffion upon a claufc
the SPEA ft KER expreffed his opinion on the A of
the A a of Elizabeth. He Paid, that the law ez-
i-prefly Hated that perfons were to be relieved by
.t• who had not fufficient to maintain thcmfdves;
11.eTefore his opinion was, that though perfons did
pc,:l-f•, tome property, yet, if that was not fuffi-
ekot to maintain thentfelves and their families,
they ought to be relieved by Magillrates, without
b,:ir,g deprived of what property they polkaed,
and fait be refutel relief in confequence of poffeff.
tog that proprty. This, hc faid, was the opirfion
al in.tity intelligent blagiltrates With whom fit

had converted, and who atled upoti it ; and he
col-defied he was led in tome meafure to his con-
drudion of the Ad in quellion, in confequence of
their opinion, and lie had aded upon it for thirty
years that he was in the profefl]on of the Law—a
proletlion, he acknowledged he had left with re-
ludance for the honour that Houfe had done hir
Mr. Arm IT BR FAD faid, there were many inflances
of Overfcers felling the beds from under the lidos
of dillreded people, before they would afford them
relief; and they jullitied this at by raying: "that
they could not want bread whillt they had any
tking that could be difpofed of to obtain it"—.
therefore, as opinions were fo various, it was ne-
cetrary the Act thould be explained.
Mr. PE RC EVA L laid, if Gentlemen expeded Al.
of Parliament cculd be explained, fo that " thofc
who run may read," they would be very much
miflaken ; and if this was their principle, he re-
commended their reviling all the Ads of Parlia-
ment, and then there would be nothing left to be
done in Wellminfter Hall.

Mr. Wlll7llFt FAD brought up a Claufe. " That.
no perfon who ;hall hereafter be relieved from the
payment of the Poor; Rate, (hall, in confequence
thcrcol; be deemed or taken to be chargeable to
the parilli in which lie or fhe may happen to reticle
at the time of making this order."
The feveral claufes of the Bill being gone
through, the I Joule was refumed, and the bill or-
dered to be reonrted on Monday next.

IRISH MARTIAL-LAW BILL.

Lord Cis-I-LER' Ar;l4 brought in this Bill, whick
u•as read a lirit time, and ordered for a fecond
reading on Monday next.

IstICII DUTIES.

On the motion of Lord CASTLEREAGH, leave
was given to In ing is the necetE►ry Bills for con-
tinuing the raid duties.

IRISH HABEAS CORPUS ACT.

Lord CASTLIiit CAnn, after a thortpreface,wherc.
in he Rated the neceulity of the meafure, moved
fir leave to bring in a Bill to fitfpend the Habeas.
Corpus At in lrcland, for a time to be limited.—
Leave being given, he lignified his intention of
bringing in the. Bill on Monday.—Adjourned to
Monday.

LONDON.