Star.
London, England, 1823-05-03 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The House was summoned to the House of Lords, to hear
the Royal Assent given by Commission to several public and
private Bills.
DENNISON presented two Petitions from St. Mary,
Newington, and Clapham, in favour of the Court of Requests Bill.
On the Report of the Newport Pagnel, Read Bill being
brought up,
Mr. CARTWRIGHT objected to the clause A; as affecting
the rights of another trust, and moved an Amendment.
After some observations from Mr. S. Worirt.ev, the gallery
was cleared for a division :—Ayes, 15—Noes, 53—Majority, 38.
Mr. CALVERT resented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of different Parishes of Southwark, in favour of the Court of
Requests Bill..—" Laid upon the table.
Mr. CALVERT Moved tleic
.sglond reading of the South-
wark Court of itectire,ts Bill. •
Sir J. YORK E said, he feared this Bill was brought in more
as a populak thari .a. just Measure. Hs abo considered that the
costs upon iicoircarliqg of small debts by the Bill proposed, would
Le at £l6O per cent. in place of .C:l5 per cent. as by the former
regulatiehl. Ile.should therefore molts, as an Amendment,
that the Bill lisjreid a second time this day six months.
Mr. DENNrSON supported the Bill; in the firer place, be-
.lauseli went to remove many grievances on the poor, and, in the
next, because the increase of the population required such a Court.
Mr. CA LV ERT said, the proposed Bill would materially
alter the rate of fees, which of itself viould be a good ; particu-
larly in taking out summonses and decrees for small debts.
Sir J. GRAHAM objected to this Bill, on the ground that it
tended to take away vested rights, created by Act of Parliament'
so far back as 1806. The fees in Southwark might be higher
than in other plaCes, bat no ring bad yet said they were vices:Ave,'
Mr. I. A M BTON defended the Bill, as both just and neces-
nary. 'I he_ Honourable Baronet raid the slick Bailiff and other:
05cerstad vested interests; and Lan-.ston) wall tel

Mr. Imo N LOW said, that when he brought torward his
Motion on the 15th of Past month, the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Plunkett) took occasion to inform the House, that be had
in his possession, among other affidavits, one which went to
prove an intimate connection between one of the person! charged
and some of the Grand Jury; a connection of such a nature,
that if known to the Ili;Ist llon. Gentleman in proper rime, it
would have formed ground enough to challenge the whole an ay.
He (slr. 13rownlow) was desired to give this statement the mo-t
absolute contradiction. The Sheriff denied all connection be-
tween the panel and any of the persons charged. It appear.d
that the affidavit to which he now alluded had no jurat. Ile
wished to know whetheriba affidavit, a copy of which was de-
manded b y his Hon. Friend ( Mr. Ellis) was lathe same predicament?
Mr. BEICETT observes!, that the Hon. Member might have
known the precise nature of the former affidavit from the papers
on the table. _ _

Mr. PLUNKETT said, he kept the alb:Hs:its as private do-
cuments.. They had been communicated to him privately, to
dir....ct his conduct. It could not be expected, under these cir-
cumstances, that he would give up the names of the persous.—
It was true that the affidavit alluded to had not a jur.it, hoz the
Hon. Member (Mr. Browniow) was not therefike to conc:ude
that all the others were in the same situation.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Sir E. HARVEY presented a Petition from the Clergy,
Landowners, and Agriculturists of the County of Essex, cont..
plalning of Agriculture( Distress. The Petitioneri praytd-that
protecting duties might be imposed on foreign corn, and com-
plained that the taxes repealed iii the presentSesiint would not
afford them any effectual relief.
Lord 311Ll'ON.said., he was not of the same opinion u tie
Petitioners with respect to the imposiiion of protecting duties.
He fully concurred with them, however, In thinking that thg
repeal of the Assessed Taxes would 'not give effectual
Those which had been repealed were not well selected for the
relief of a:riculture. What benefit could the agriculturist derive
from a repeal of the duties paid by the landlord on carriages and
hupters? The-vray to afford effectual relief west, to lessen the
expense of cultivating the land.
Mr. HONEY WOOD supported the prayer of the Petition.—
Ordered to be printed. •