Star.
London, England, 1822-03-29 00:00:00

MR. HUNT.

Sir ROBERT WILSON said, he held in his hand
a Petition, to certain passages of which he thought it
candid to call the attention of the House. The Peti-
tion was that of the Parish of SG Matthew, Bethnal-
green, and was numerously and respectably signed :
and it prayed that the House would take into its se-
rious consideration the case of Mr. Hunt. It adverted
to the' equivocal offence" of Mr. Hunt, to the dis-
proportionate sentence, and the severe manner in
which that sentence had been carried into execution.
There'was one paragraph in the Petition to which he
thought it right to call the attention of the House,
that it might. have an opportunity of exercising its
judgment on its propriety, when it afterwards came
to be read. In this paragraph the Petitioners first
disclaimed any intention of using any expressions that
could convey an insult to the House; but they could
not help calling
its attention to the necessity of a Re-
form in Parliament, when they saw it circulated in
print, stated in the House, that the purchase of
seats in the House of Ciimmons was as " notorious as
the sun at noon-day ;" and when they understood it
eras stated, by a Cabinet Minister, that it was neces-
sary to have seats at the disposal of the Government,
for the purpose of securing a majority in that House,
which was intended to operate as a check on the
Executive ; and when they read in the Newspapers of
the llth of February lag, in a speech of Mr. Spooner,

-,,e.ARW‘4 —3l,wwk
' '

bola,
Otedat Malting
s bad sat bit a *Ott Ourrithte:Hause
Commons; low enough howeeerto In the scandal-
nue way M which the most importnattioestions
disposed of. Merb bays cane it and voted
jab of which they.were totally ignorant; and
titles the most momentous quastgatt were
when only 60 Members were present, 'whit
thought on the subject on which they were to vote,
but looked at the Marquis of Londonderry at one side
and Mr. Tierney at the other, by which they were at
once determined in their'ofoinioni, while the rest of
the Members were amusing themselves at Balls,
Theatres, and Coffee-houses. The Petitioners conti-
nued to state, that when such abuse notoriously ex-
isted, it ought to be removed, and he must be a nar-
row, shallow-thinded man who did not see the neces-
sity of a change in a House so constituted.
Mr. Alderman WOOD seconded the motion, and
concurred in the opinion of the Petitioners on the
necessity of a Parliamentary Reform"
Mr. DICKINSON said, that a Petition which con-
tained such language was an insult to the House, and
ought ant to be received. Besides, it contained what
was not true, in stating that boys voted in the House
of Commons.- That such was not the fact was noto-
rious to everybody, when no person ss as eligible
under the age of twenty-one.
The gallery was then cleared, and: the House di-
vided on the propriety of receiving the Petition. The
numbers were—
=vying It
it
Majority against receiving it - --so
On the re-admission of strangers to the gallery,
Mr, Alderman WOOD was presenting a Petition
from the Inhabitants of Ashton-under-Line, in Lan-
cashire, in favour of Mr. Hunt, complaining of the
unnecessary severity of his punishment, and praying
that the authors and abettors of it, whether Magis-
trates or Jailers, may be made to account for their
conduct, and that Mr. Hunt may be restored to the
enjoyment of his own mansion. It also prayed that
the House may institute an inquiry into the massacre
at Manchester.T.--The Petition was laid on the table,
and ordered to be printed.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
Mr. HUME said, he held in his hand a Petition
from the Mayor, Bailiff, and Commonalty of Mon-
mouth, in favour of Parliamentary Reform ; but
from the decision of the Rouse on the Petition pre-
sented a few moments since, he was quite at a loss
how to proceed, as the Petition which he had to pre-
sent might not also be considered to contain language
sufficiently delicate for the feelings of the House.—
But it was in vain to shew such a di,inclination to re-
ceive anything which touched on Reform. He per-
fectly concurred in the sentiments of that Petition on
the necessity of such a measure, constituud as the
House now was ; and though it might be delayed by
temporising measures fur a short period, the time
would come, and was not far distant, when a Reform
would take place ; and what had just occurred—
namely, the rejecting the prayers of the People, con-
trary to their just rights and undoubted privileges,
was a convincing proof of its immediate necessity.—
When grievances were admitted to exist, he thought
a refusal to hear the Petition read which contained a
statement of those grievances, was an insult to the
People—( Hear).
The SPEAKER here interrupted Mr. Hume, and
said the Hon. Member must be aware it was quite
contrary to decorum to make such observations ;
and when they would not be permitted outside the
doors of the House, they could be much less so within.
Mr. HUME submitted that he was not aware of
having made use of any observations out of order ;
he only said the Petitioners were injured, and their
privileges violated, by the rejection of their Petition,
and in stating that he never before understood that it
was contrary to decorum. He contended that the
House had not the right of rejecting a Petition be-
cause it might have contained disagreeable truths.—
The Petition which he was about to present might
meet the same fate as the former one, for the same
reason : but he would refer to its most important pa-
ragraph, and leave the House to exercise its judg-
ment on it. The Petitioners stated, that they sought
a Reform in the House of Commons with a view to
the salvation of their remaining liberties, and that the
rights of the People, which were now in a lingering
state, might not be entirely extinguished. They also
stated, they did not flatter themselves that the prayer
would be granted, but they, however, wished to im-
press on the House the necessity of such a measure,
and hoped that a Reform would be speedily intro-
duced into the House of Commons. In every word
of the Petition he (Mr. Hunie) expressed his entire
and hearty concurrence, and repeated, that he was
the more convinced of the necessity of Reform from
the rejection of the former Petition. He concluded
by moving that the Petition be brought up.
On the question being put,
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET could not ad-
mit that the Petition contained the sentiments of the
commonalty of Monmouth ; he believed, nn the con-
trary, that it contained sentiments in which many of
the most respectable inhabitants disagreed.
Mr. COURTENAY seconded the motion of the
Hon. Member for Aberdeen, and he did so with the
view of directing the attention of the House to the
distinction betwten the present and the former Peti-
tion ; it contained none of the abusive language which
so strongly marked the former one—it was free from the
insults and imputations on the House which were con-
tained in that Petition. He could not agree with the
Hon. Member in saying that the Petition was re-
jected without being read ; lid he not recollect that
the gallant Member who presented it had particularly
called the attention of the House to a paragraph
which he read, and could it be then said it was re-
jected without its contents being known ? But when
be heard the language of that paragraph, couched in
such terms of insult to the House, he could not hesi-
tate a moment in rejecting it. He thought those who
contended for the unlimited reception of Petitions, in
whatever language they might be contained, wet e the
worst enemies to the very interests which they pro-
fessed to support. He totally differed from those
Gentlemen who held that the House had not the right
of rejecting Petitions when they contained offensive
language. There were a number of instances in
which a similar course was adopted, and he bad no
doubt that it was perfectly constitutional.
I Mr. G. BENNET expressed his concurrence with
the. Hon. Gentleman in the opinion that the House

•
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state ,ives,
well known, and frequently mentioned both a...
and without doors. Even the late Mr. Ponsonby, the
Chancellor of Ireland, said that it was as cleat as the
sun at noon-day that seats were sold in that House ;1
and if there were any Hon. Gentlemen still disposed
to be incredulous, he was ready to take the proof of
it upon himself, and establish the fact in ten minutes,
if he were permitted to call certain Gentlemen to the
bar. The Petitioners also knew such a practice did
exist : they thought it a scandal, and therefore prayed
the House to put a stop to it by a ReForm ; they made
these statements also upon the authority of one who
had a seat in the House for some tune, and was most
likely to be in the secret of all such practices, be-
cause, even during the short period he was in the
House, he was deeply entrenched and embosomed
shouldhe
likeH Gentlemenont.oha
amlleongtvethon
e tthe
.]
Secretary ppo e beep npcehs
opposite
called to the bar of the House: he could then tell
how the Parliament of 1806 was constituted, and how
seats were sold on that occasion—(Hear, hear).—He
thought the Petitioners justified in their statement,
when they made it on the word of an Ez-Member of
Parliament—one, it must be admitted, who was no
bad authority on such a subject. As to the objection
that the Petition stated boys voted in the House, it
was clear that the Petitioners did not mean boys from
Westminster School. or boys, as used in the common
parlance; thermeant those who, though they might
have attained the age of manhood, were still boys in
experience; and this was the front of their crime—
there was no sneer, no insult offered to the House,
but merely a repetition of what had been frequently
asserted in and out of the House. On the necessity
of Reform there was little doubt, and he maintained,
in the language of Lord Chatham, if it was not re
formed from within, it would at length be reformed
with a vengeance from without.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT thought that the House
ought not to reject a Petition until it had heard it
read ; it was not sufficient ground for its rejection
that a passage was selected and read by the Member
who presented it, which might have appeared to con-
tain offensive language; he had more than once wit-
nessed Petitions presented by Members against their
inclinations, and it was not impossible that an ob-
noxious passage might be selected and read to the
House. Now he thought the House should guard
against the possibility of rejecting a Petition on such
grounds, by taking care that it should always be first
read by the Clerk. The House should never reject a
Petition without having a full knowledge of it, and
that could not be obtained without knowing the whole
content. A passage which, taken alone, might ap-
pear offensive, when taken along with the whole Pe-
tition, might not bear any such construction. Nobody
was more anxious than he was to prevent any insult
to the House, and maintain its dignity in full vigour
and power ; but he thought no Member ought to exer-
cise his judgment on the tenour of any Petition with-
out first heating the whole of it read.
Sir ROBERT WILSON said, that in justice to the
House, the Petitioners, and himself, lie felt it his duty
to state that he did not direct the attention of the
House to the paragraph in question with the view
that it should then decide on it, but for the purpose
of fixing its attention on it when the whole of the
Petition was read by the Clerk.
Mr. DICKINSON still contended that that part of
the Petition which stated boys voted in the House of
Commons was untrue ; and that, in the whole pe-
riod of English history, there was but one instance of
a person sitting in the House who was under age,
and that person was Mr. Fox, who spoke, but did
not vote during his minority.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY said, that having voted for
ithe bringing up the Petition, he wished to state that
his sentiments entirely coincided with those of the
r Hon. Member for Waterford. He would be the last
, person in the House to vote for any Petition which
contained anything offensive to the House ; but, he
maintained, the rejected Petition contained no direct
allegation against the House; it only repeated what
others had said before, and if it had been read, the
House would then have had the opportunity of know-
ing on what ground it ought to be rejected.
After a few observations from Mr. Alderman
WooD, the Petition was brought up.
Mr. HUME, on moving that the Petition be laid
on the table, said, he did it for the purpose of giving
the Noble Lord (Somerset) an opportunity of shew-
ing why he thought the Petition was not signed by
the respectable inhabitants of Monmouth. He (Mr.
Hume) contended, that it was signed by the greater
number of the respectable commonalty, though, per-
haps, none of the signatures of the Noble Lord's voters
were affixed to it : among the other respectable Peti-
tioners was the late Mayor. He had lately an op-
portunity of seeing the Burgesses of Monmouth, and
he could vouch for the respectability of those who
subscribed the present Petition.
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said, that he
had his information from as good a source as the Ho-
nourable Gentleman opposite, and he was prepared
to say, that the greater number of the Aldermen and
Burgesses were entirely unacquainted with the Peti-
tion, and there were many of the respectable corn-
monalty who bad not signed it; but he did not mean
to say that those who signed it were not respectable.
The Petition was then laid on the table, and ordered
to be printed.
MALT DUTY AND SPIRIT LICENSES IN IRELAND.
Mr. SPRING RICE said, he wished to call the
attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the
late Malt Duty in Ireland: when on a former occa-'
sion he asked him how mud) would be the reduction
for Ireland, he replied, it would be L 200,000; but if
the Right Hon. Gentleman referred to the papers on
the table, he would see that such a reduction could
not be effected : he wished to learn what might be
the probable amount of the reduction now, as the
former one could not take place. He wished also to
call his attenticip to the spirit license duty in Ireland;
the high charge of that duty only operated as an in-
crease to the evils which that country endured. He
could not pass over the great expense and great delay
atteniiled the production of any Returns ordered

•

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tide delay all fair dismsicni nn
• documents were necessary, v:at
not altogether prevented. He held
ight to attend to the orders of the
Papers were called for, they ought
ithout any charge to the Public of
I; but, instead of this, a severe
inflicted on the peasantry:4.
point out instances where the Clerks of the
*nd the Clerks oldie Peace had greater emo.
hunients even than the Hon. Secretary opposite. lie
knew them to have collected a revenue of three, four,
and-five hundred pounds a-year, from the peasantry,
for furnishing papers called for by the House. Ile
hoped, that noticing the subject would have the effect
of preventing such delay and such expense in future.
He concluded moving that the Returns of the
Spirit License Duty in Ireland, which were laid on
the table yesterday, be printed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER saidi.
he had calculated that the amount of the Malt Duty
reduction in Ireland would be £200,000, but it now
appeared that it would not exceed £lOO,OOO. Rut
Ireland had no reason to complain of any injustice
towards it ; it had its proportionate share of ti:e be.
nefit of the reduction; if it did not amount to more,
it was not the fault of Government ; but it s oulcl be
for the House to consider what other ii.easures should
be adopted to give it a larger share in the advantage
to be derived from the reduction on the Malt Duty.
As to the Spirit License Duty, it was a subject of too
important and extensive. a nature, and so closely con-
nected with the interests of Ireland, that he could not
now give any opinion on it ; he thought it could he
entered on with much more advantage afier the Re-
port of the Commissioners of Inquiry was know l,
who were now investigating that subject. rt.
gard to the Clerks of the C and the Clerk (.1
the Peace, it was the first time that he heard ,u:h
a complaint against them.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said tiers was a subje-t
which ought to be fully taken up. Since fist
had a seat in the House, he was in the habit of Cori•
plaining of the delay in pioducing Irish pai,eis, and
he thought some measure should be aLiokaed which
would facilitate their production. As to the taxation
on the peasantry for these papers, he thought it a great
grievance, and was entitled to the se. ions consideration
of the House. Perhaps the House could hardly cre-
' dit that there were counties in Ireland in which die
Clerks of the Peace received from .5,0001. to 10,0001.
a year, levied on the peasantry by taxation. When
such was the fact, he was sure the House would see
the necessity of giving this subject its serious attention.
Mr. CROKER. said, if the facts welt" as state,
that a sum of 4,0001. or 5,0001. was paid to a Clerk
of the Peace, the Grand Jury should not. have passed
any presentments at that time. The blame should
be fixed on the parties who were really in fault; an,+
if the charges be taken for granted, he considered
that the Grand Jury deserved animadversion.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said that the House could
satisfy itself upon the subject by the inspection of
the papers, which were above stairs for Hollow ab:e
Members to see.—The paper ordered to be pl ante .

chef bellied its di . . ,-- the Rouse; by'
paterd4
norstiousaus.
•A.. , ill get, v
.fouse of or tho , . eubjects, where
scandal- did Pod .' 4th J., . impeded, if no
.ms were Patidons which ought, to ' ?-11 'thou ' I . ery officer ong
)r
on sub- it did not. The Petitiolers c , h a fair . on ! and when Pa
id some- Meet Onfnlrievances for the pur . , of obtaining re- to be furnished, with
decided dress, shad net to offer insult—they, even in the out- any other individual
6 newer set, disclaimed any such intention. They did not taxation was inflicted
ta, ~,,Ite_ state facts as from themselves, but as what had been He could point clerk
• -I In ftis arta& ti% "4..i.:e. and/ the

.T'+~-. _ yr-~

II

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that period the National Debt had increased one-' a sitainsen. that Was bought and sold? He had heard
third. The ground on which the opposition to his 1 that it was, He was sure that no Shetiff could have
wishes ea, founded was, that the Act of 1808 had i a right to sell it, but this he had understood was done.
fixed the remuneration of the Bank, and the question ' He. should like to inquire into this subject, and to
could not now be opened. To that he would answer, ascertain whether the present holder of it had not
that alterations had taken place before that time, not purchased it. He remarked on the descriptions of
withstanding the former Acts of the same descrip- persons who assisted the Clerk of the County, and
don. By the Act of 1791, the remuneration to the stated them to have more the appearance of convicts!
Bank was fixed at 4501. per million. He considered than of persons appointed to administer justice. He
that the country was placed under very great oblige- could not say that a case was made out for going
tions to the Committee of 1807, over which the Ho- into a Committee on the subject, but he would
neer:sk Member for Corte Castle (Mr. Bankes) pre- willingly support a Bill, if one were brought in, to
side!, in having caused a saving to the extent of regulate that Court. ,
tlie.ooo/. per annum. He would entreat the Chan- the SOLICITOR-GENERAL was reluctant to
cellor of the Exchequer, as the guardian of the pub- detain the House on so dry and uninteresting a sub-
lic purse, not to give way to the feelings of the Bank. ject, but he felt it necessary, after what had been
He hoped that Gentleman would take the subject stated, to offer a few observations. In the present in-
into his consideration, and allow it to be referred to stance, no Petition was presented from any aggrieved
-a Committee. Ile would take the liberty of alluding party—no charge of misconduct on the part of the
to another source of great public economy, and not clerk or any of the officers under him had been pre-
One of the least inconvenience. Ile alluded to a sum ferred—no want of justice had bein complained of,
of four millions of balances lying in the hands of the and therefore he could not help thinking that no Par
Flank unprofitably. He was aware that the amount liamentary ground had been laid for the motion. The
of balances had been reduced in their hands; but he Hon. Member for Shrewsbury had described the
saw no reason why they should be allowed to make Jurors who assisted the Clerk of the County to have
a profit on that four millions by an interest of three the appearance of convicts. He had to state that
per cent. to the extent of 120,0001. per annum. He these persons were of the same class as those who
considered that a sum exceeding 200,0001. a year were entitled to sit as Jurors in the Nisi Prius Court,
might and ought to be saved, without die least vio- at Westminster. If any misconduct were proved, a
lotion of faith with the Ba k. He trusted that the summary remedy was provided by applying to the
Govern ern would see the necessity of some atten- two Chief Justices of the Courts of King's Bench and
tion bet. - .ken to the subject; and that the Right Common Pleas. Here, then, was a case in which no
Ho ourable Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Ex- misconduct was charged—a case in which a summary
chieyer) would have no objection to submit it to a remedy was provided where misconduct was proved,
('on mittee before the present Session was over. and yet they were called upon to go into an inquiry.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inti- This Court, the Hon. Gentleman must be aware, had
mated that some inquiry into the state of the un- obtained the particular praise of Mr. Justice Black-
claimed dividends was in contemplation. 'tone, as one, the constitution of which wanted only
The motion was then agreed to. to be known to be copied throughout the country. If
HOUSE TAX IN SCOTLAND. any misconduct be charged with respect to the fees
Lrrd A. HAMILTON moved for a Return of the taken, why was not a complaint made where an in-
total amount of the duty of 4s. 6d. on all Houses in scant remedy might be obtained ? He thought it was
Scotland under the annual rent of 1:5 in the last three not fair to throw out such insinuations as they had
years, distinguishing the amount levied, and the sum heard against the predecessor of the present Clerk. In
pail into the Exchequer. common justice to that individual, now no more,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did he ought to have stated that complaints were made
not wish to oppose the production of the paper moved against him during his lifetime, which had been in
ter by the Noble Lord; but if it was the intention of quired into, and deeded by Lord Ellenborough and
the Noble Lord to found on it a proposition for the Sir V. Gibbs, to be destitute of foundation. Two days
reduction of the tax io question, he thought it but in a week had been found sufficient for dispatching the
fair to give him notice that he should feel it his duty , business of the Court, and the individual presiding over
to oppose any motion for that purpose.—The motion it never retired while a person remained unheard.—
was then agreed to. L. had been said, that persons going to receive their
MIDDLESEX COURT OF CONSCIENCE. money waited for hours without succeeding in their
Mr. LENNARD wished to call the attention of the object. In this the Hon. Gentleman was misinformed.
House to a subjectwhich he considered of importance, The day had been divided by the Clerk into two por-
n. it materially affected the labouring classes in the tions, for the accommodation of different classes of
County of Middlesex. He wished to bring before suitors, so as to obviate the supposed inconvenience.
them the state of the County Court of Conscience.— It had been said, 180 cases were to be disposed of in
From papers which he had moved for in a former each day. From a reference to the Papers, it would
year, it appeared that the number of causes annually be seen the number was 160. Of these half were un-
decided in this Court had been about 17,000. Last defended, and thus the number was reduced to 80.
year, he believed, there was an increase, and that the Of these 80, half were only met by the plea of po-
total number was nearly 18,000. Two days in each verty, and the claim to be allowed to pay by instal.
week %sere given to the hearing of them, and thus it meats. These could take up but very little time.—
would be seen that there were 180 to be disposed of Thus the number of cases that demanded attention
in each day. In consequence, it often happened, that was brought down to forty or fifty, and it was well
persons were kept waiting from nine in the morning known that more than half that number was fre.
till five in the afternoon, and, from the regulations quently disposed of in the superior Courts of West.
acted upon, a person living eight or nine miles off minster and Guildhall. The Clerk, with the Jury as-
might frequently have to travel that distance for four sisting him, disposed of the btisiness in the most sa-
or five days, and thus, in fact, lose so many days to tisfactory manner. The gross amount of the fees
recover a debt of fifteen or twenty shillings. He had was about £2OOO per annum. Out of this the Clerk
no charge to make against the individual who pre- had to pay a number of officers, and to bear various
sided over that Court. Much to his credit he had charges, which to:* from that sum £4OO or L:500.
reduced the fees since he had been in office, but the He had then left a salary of no more than £l5OO, for
person who had last held that situation had consider- the discharge of a most laborious and painful duty.
ably augmented them, and, as this might be done Though the Court sat but two days in each week
again, it was proper that the constitution of the Court throughout the year, the other four days were em-
should be looked into. The fees received, from the ployed for the Public in a manner not required by
County Clerk's own statement, amounted annually to Act of Parliament, but so employed by him because
about 1:2,100. Out of this he had to pay the ex. it was demanded by public convenience. He offered
penses of the establishment, taxes, stationary, and the some further explanation of the duties of the situa-
officers employed under him. Deducting I:sooforthose tion, and the manner in which those duties were per-
charges, and he could not suppose them to amount formed; and concluded by expressing sorrow that a
to more, it would leave the principal an income of motion like the present had been brought forward, as
£1,500 or £1,600 per annum. For this income he it was known the constitution of the Court to which
thought the duties of the office ought to be performed it referred was considered worthy of imitation, and
in a way that should completely answer the purpose that the Gentleman who presided over it had dis-
originally intended. He thought it strange that, dur- charged its duties with integrity, with care, and with
ing the twenty-five years the late Clerk held the situ- skill, ever since his appointment to the office.
atinn, no account of unclaimed money had ever Mr. LENNARD replied, he had never meant to
been given, as, from a variety of circumstances, he cast any imputation upon the Gentleman who pre-
should have expected that considerable sums would sided. He would not press his motion to a division,
be left at different times in the hands of the Court.— knowing it would be vain against the Honourable
It had been arranged by the late Clerk, that persons and Learned Gentleman's opposition.
having money to receive from the Court, should ap- Mr. W. SMITH spoke in favour of the motion. 1
ply for it between the hours of ten and two on one Mr. P. MOORE wished for inquiry also. The re.
day in the week—Monday. The consequence was, medy provided for abuses seemed tohim too great for
on that day a vast crowd assembled, and persons fre- the subject. It was like yoking an elephant to list a flea.
quently went two or three times without tieing able Mr. W. COURTENAY thought it rather unusual
to obtain their money. If a Committee were granted, for a debate to be continued after the Gentleman
he would suggest the expediency of allowing suitors who brought forward the motion had made his reply.
to apply for their money any day in the week. With After whathad been said, he must remark, it seemed
the number of cases that now frequently came before rather singular that the last Hon. Gentleman who
the Court in one day, it was really but a mockery of had spoken on this subject should think abuses in the
justice to pretend to dispose of them. He, therefore, Court of Conscience too trifling to be brought before
Doped that the Returns made to a former Order of the two Chief Justices, yet, withaut any complaint or
the House on this subject would be referred to a case made out, consider it would be worth while to
Committee to be' appointed for the purpose of inquir- refer the whole subject to a Committee of that House.
ing if the amount of the present feel might not be He was of opinion that there were no grounds for ac-
diminished, and also to inquire into the expediency ceding to the motion.—The motion was then put, and
of the County Clerk sitting oftener than once a week negatived without a division.
in the Hundred of Ossulston, and of increasing the AMERICAN LOYALISTS.
number of sittings in other Hundreds in Middlesex. Mr. W. SMITH said, it must be in the recollection
Mr. BERNAL was sorry to differ from the Hon. of the House, that in the last Session of Parliament it
Gentleman, and thought it rather hard on the County was agreed that a sum should be given out of the
Clerk, against whom no charge was preferred, that Admiralty Droits to pay the American Loyalists ten
the subject should be brought forward as it had been. shillings in the pound, out of the debt which they
No complaint had been preferred against this Gentle- claimed. He understood, that up to this time not a
Snan during the three years he had filled this situa- single shilling had been paid to the parties, who,
tion, and he had to state that he had disbursed not after waiting thirty years, had had that award to
less than 1:2000 out of his own pocket to provide a which he had referred, made in their favour. He
suitable building for the purpose—the present Court wished to know why no payment had yet been made?
of
Conscience, in Kiugsgate-street. He; therefore, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
thought it rather unfair that his emoluments should owned it was perfectly true that £60,000 had been
be called in question. To him it appeared that the granted to certain persons described to be American
subject could only be properly brought forward on Loyalists, who had suffered in their property for their
a Petition. There were no grounds for the motion. attachment to this country. The sum granted for
Mr. BENNET thought it was clear, on the Clerk that purpose had in fact been issued, but certain other
of the County's own sliming, that, under the present persons had claimed to share in it, whose claim seemed
system, justice could not be done to the suitors.— prima facie of equal validity with those which had
Though no charge was brought against the Clerk, it been previously advanced. The difficulty of ascer-
appeared that the business could not be properly dis- tenting to whom the King's bounty should be ex-
posed of, it only two days in each week were given `tended, had caused the delay. Ministers were anxious
to it. lie should like to know whether that was ROL to make the expected disbUIWIDEIIII the 11101X1eln they

iiinffer":7 -:cogigrt r:srw

were eilittfra ,
the beneit.

had been taken
that called, for
The CHANT
that every psi&
claims CU those

vita to this country,
Mr. W. starry
claimants, who '
sations placed
that others were

End thus retarded the
been delayed thirty •

TheCHANI
the Order of
the Committee
. Mr. GREN:
Session the Ordnance
House that their

by public contract
formed that since

place. He had
been let off
likely to prove
Mr. It. WAI

a general rule that all the dealings of the Board should
be transacted by public contract: and in cases of
purchase, they always had proceeded by public ad-
vertisements for contracts. But the practice had iu
all times been to sell by private as well as public
biddings. Ile coincided with the Hon. Gentlemen
that it was infinitely better, as a general rule, to take
advantage of public competition at the same time
reserving to the Board a discretionary power to de-
viate from that course if they saw a necessity for so
doing. There had been one sale of iron stores b
private contract to a very respectable house, which
was effected in consequence of the glutted state of
the market. The Board got more for them by a
considerable sum than they could have done by pub-
lic contract at a time when there was no demand in
the market.

As to the ordnance Board having let

Mr. R. WARD said, that the exertions . Sr J. - bad
been of great public benefit in his present situation. Ile attended
the Establishment, and such cases as he took in band he at-
tended to until they were disposed of.
Colonel DAVIES repeated that he did not intend to select
on the veracity of Sr J. Webb; but as we had all a good opi-
nion of ourselves, it was natural to suppose that the statement
contained a little gloss. Indeed, he (the Colonel) thought there
was not one Assistant-Surgeon who served in the Army of Spain
whose services did not exceed those of Sir J. Webb.
Mr. T. WILSON supported the Resolution, and Mr. Hume'l
motion was then negatived without a division.
The other Resolutions were then agreed to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved thii
second reading of the Irish Commercial Cred,t Bill.
Mr. S. RICE wished to know from the Hon. Secretary for
Ireland, whether accounts had not been received stating, that in
the disturbed districts, there was considerable distress existing
front a want of food?

off persons from their conti acts, there had heels; do
such thing. In one case a Gentleman had made very
large offers to be released from his contract, but.
they were peremptorily refused by the Board.
Sir U. BURGH was of opinion that k was neces-
sary for the Board to exercise a discretion as to the
manner of the sales.
Mr. HUYIE contended for the advantage of pub-
lic contracts.

Mr. GOULBURN said, that such accounts had been received,
and the truth of them was under examination. At present it
was impossible to offer any opinion on the subject, though he
assured the Hon. Member, that he sympathized with him and
every friend of Ireland, on the present state of that country.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be com•
mitted on Monday ; and, in the interim, to he printed.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Re-
ceiver-Genzral's House being in a Committee,

Mr. HOBHOUSEopposed the Bill, principally on the ground
that the local Commissioners were subject to Exchequer prates&
Mr. LUSHINGTON defended the provisions of the Bill,
which were, be said, similar to those in other Bills of the same
nature.
Sir C. LONG spoke iu favour of the Bill, which, he said, was
recommended by a Committee of the House.
A long desultory conversation followed between Mr. nos-
-1101713 Sir C. LORG, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, Mr.
11. SjITH, and Mr. Lusinxiorox, it was agreed that the Bill
should pass through the Committee proforma, and be reprinted.
The House then resumed, and the Report was ordered to be
taken into consideration on the ißth of ApriL
The other Orders of the Do were then disposed of, and, at
a Quarter before Eleven, the House Adjourned.

After some explanatory observations from Mr.
WARD, Mr. %V. SMITH, and Sir U. Bunch, the Ite-
port was bt ought up.—On the motion that it be read,
Mr. 6RENFELL observed, that his only object
was to obtain an explanation of what he had beard.
He did not agree with the gallant Officer that the
Board of Ordnance were to have a discretionary
power as to the manner of the sales. If so the Navy
and other Boards must have the mile, which they
hitherto had not.

The C H ANC ELLOR ofthe EXCHEQUER thought
there had been a discussion upon this point, without
any real difference of opinion as to principle.—
It was allowed that, as a general proposition, public
competition was the best mode of dealing.—But it
should be left to the discretion of the Board to resort
to other means, where they saw combination and
almost conspiracy.
Sir J. NEWPORT contended, that the latter case
would be the exception, and not the rule.
Mr. R. WARD and Sir U. BURGH assented to what
had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet.
The Report was then received, and a variety of Re-
solutions were agreed to.
Upon that for granting £13,662 for the service of the Military
College at Sandhurst,
Mr. HUME contended that the expense was too great in
proportion to the utility of the School, and moved a reduction
to £10,240.
Mr. F. PALMER supported the amendment.
Lord PA LMERSTO N defended the establishntent, as being
conducted upon as economical a scale as possible.
Mr. HUME remarked upon the e.isproportion of the utility
of the School in respect to its expense.
Sir H. HARDING E wished to chew to the house how erro-
neous were the calculations of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen,
which he had submitted to the House upon this subjtct on a
former night. He had stated that, in five years, there wen! only
160 Cadets admitted into the Army, out of 1,764 who were edu-
cated at Sandhurst. The fact was, that only 470 were educated
in that period, and consequently that the Hou. Member for
Aberdeen had overstated 1,294 upon 1,764--(Hear).—The man-1
ner in which he had fallen into the mistake was, that he took
the Cadets admitted into the School during the five years, and
calculated upon the whole numher,whereas each took four years
to complete his education. The effect of these ntistatements
was to mislead the country upon most important points, and
that it was which induced him to point them out to the House.
If they had no further effect than making up the speeches of the
Honourable Member for Aberdeen, they would do no mischief,
and might pass unheeded; but he complained that they gave the
country a false idea of the manner in which the Army was ad-
ministered, and most unjustly prejudiced the people against :he
services of the Commander-in-Chief. There was another point
upon which the same attempt to throw discredit upon those ser-
vices had been made. It was stated that the Cadets who were
orphans could not obtain commissions, because they were set
aside by the children of the Nobility, and those who possessed
interest. He would deny this altogether. He saw a case him-
self which completely disproved the assertion. It was one in
which a young man who passed an admirable examination at the
same time when a young Nobleman also passed with credit.
The latter was about third, he believed, and the former first in
the class. The consequence was, that the Commander-in-Chief
gave the first commission to him, and not to the Nobleman.
There was also another mis.atement of the Honourable Mem-
ber with regard to the Staff of this Establishment. An Honour-
able Friend of his had given him an apt illustration of the error
to which he at first alluded. It was the case of a person Saying.
that because there were 658 Members returned to that House,
' therefore 3,290 would be elected in five years!--(Laughter)
Mr. HU kl K contended that his statements were correct; and
that he had made his calculations on the Returns laid on the
table. ' There were 1764 cadets in the school, and only 160 re-
ceived commissions. The expense of each Officer with which
the Army was supplied from the school, was therefore what he
had stated it to be. The House then divided:
For the Amendment -
Against it

Dim ragetarrim.—A duel was appointed to take place yes-
terday morning, in the Jew's-Harp-fields, Mary-la. Bonne, be-
tween Mr. A—v—t., a gentleman of fortune, and Mr. kt—s—y,
a merchant ; hut the friends of the latter caused him to be held
in sureties to keep the peace on Wednesday night. The misun-
' derstanding originated it the Optra, where much intemperate
language was exchanged respecting a lady.
RICHARDSON, exchange/d1
and Co. reap ctfully
acquaint the Public, that the -Ticket, No. 11,221,
drawn yesterday a Prize of 1:20,000, was sold by
them in Shares, at their old-established Office, 104.,
Bank-buildings, Cornhill. Tickets and Shares, war-
ranted un.?rawn, are on sale for the next and last day,
the 23d of April.
ELEGANT GLASSES, FURNITURE, &c.—The No-
bility and Gentry ate invited to inspect the Ware
moms of COOPER and SoN, 93, BishopsgAte-street
Within, where is exhibited an assortment of new and
second-hand Plate Glasses, admirably suited to every
de,cription of drawing or dining-rooms. In the fur-
niture department is comprised every new and ele-
gant article of upholstery, cabinet, and chair-work,
the prices of which are reduced to such a scale of
economy as to attract and ensure the patronage of
rank and fashion.

The human Hair is an invaluable gift of Nature;
it serves as an elegant covering to the head, and enhances the
beauty of the " human face divine." Young Ladies and Gen-
tlemen are particularly advised to attend to the arrangement of
their Hair, and keep it iti order, as the Hair, attended to in youth,
is a sure preservative, and lies a stamina for a beautiful Head
of Hair. This will inevitably be the case, by using Rowt.sso's
Mscassas OIL, which eradicates the scurf easy and pleasant,
prevents it falling off, or turning grey ; strengthens the Hair so
as to produce beautiful Bowing curls, and the hair smooth and
glossy. In fine, this Oil renders that inestimable ornament truly
elegant and beautiful; and is the only preparation that really pos-
sesses nutritious virtues fcr that purpose. Its inestimble vir-
tues have pined it the patronage of his Royal liighness the Duke
of Sussex, their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress
of Russia, and the Emperor of China, by the express authority.
Particular caution is necessary in purchasing; each genuine bot-
tle is signed In red ink, ' A. Bormmto and Sow,' No. 1, corner of
Kirby-street, llatton.garden. All others are counterfeits.
Accounts ftvi•tl Seville say, that General Grimarest,
the Marquis d'Atalaya,. and other persons of distinc-
tion, implicated in a conspiracy against the constitu•
tional system, discovered last year, have been re-
moved from. Seville to Xeres la Frontera. *On the
same day (the 3d), the King's dragoons had a warm
altercation with the Militia, but•tlie Magistrates had
prevented any fatal consequences that might have at-
tended the quarrel.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BOSTON, FEBRUARY 26.
" We have reason to believe that the Slave Trade
was never carried on with more spirit and determi-
nation than it has been during the present year, from
the Havannah, and I fear, from too authentic intelli.
gence, that many of the vessels thus employed are
owned by American citizens,who are ecneealed from
our cruizers by the flimsy veil of the Spanish flag, and
under the mask of Spanish papers. When slaves
upon the coast are reduced in price to 13 or '2O dol-
lars per head, and are sold at Cuba at l;:/0 dollars,
the temptation becomes too great for desperate men
to resist, and operates as an inducement to una
principled individuals •to engage in the traffic at
every hazard."
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CHARLESTON, FE8.23.
~ We have had not less than twelve or thirteen
arrivals from Liverpool since the Ist of this month,
besides valuable arrivals from other hosts of Europe
and the West Indies. We understand the duties se-
cured at the Custom-house the fiist six days of the
mouth, exceeded a million of dollars, being a greater
taint than ever accrued in the sante period of time."

Majority for the Resolution -—2 O
On the Resolution for the payment of the Maater-General, and
other Officers of the Ordnance,
Mr. H U ME moved a reduction of 210,000 from the vote.
Mr. R. WARD said, the time chosen fur the proposed reduc-
clan, was one when the business of the Barrack and Commissa-
riat Department was about to be added to the Ordnance, with-
out auy additional salary being paid to the latter.
Mr. liessia motion was then put and negatived.
On the Resolution for providing for the Home Stations,
Mr. HU ..E said be objected to this vote, because the ex-
penses had gradually and considerably increased.
Mr. IL WARD said, that the business had increased pro-
ponionably.
Colonel DAVIES asked, whether the Public would be saved
the expense of the Departments about to be transferred to the
Ordnance ?

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I l i'.(ii doe IS - 'Veiny isitiitert6 me.wA tki iii '-""- "'' r' .' ' cat
•
. :
' . sunloubtedl :11,, oodpo- was ski .004 tO. t
LTENAY Wished to Wait whether paini, t lb' 16.0 tithe Medical RaioailltiMags •
• •
.Ss.„ .
,t too many isersons ---..a
yen on
'i.
In tO trsicoaiw.orhat were the ji it cliihts h),e on t this a i twn,that the principal Oder
r reAtinieradoi? . . .nothing in do. Ile thosight it Wes an (*Trope!. vote, and
MELLOR of the EXCHItQUER said, move a reduction of CISIO malt, . -
id. had 66en taken to investigate the • -Sir 16411-111qH MN - IWinelpal of the 16aahlishmen4
liir J If as i '
)se who had'siffered in rendering set*. t !. f Moot . Meer. The Public were at a . ..
ere tt expense On his ialary for if ft, were to
:nontry. . • . retiFetrom the ma Minim ' vrinikl Se entltied to ' .. a p
_endue.
lITH lad been informed that certain mr..R. WAED•saido Oat Me J..Weib had keen . ' loved at 1
ho hadTreviouskrejected the compen- & Waist Oilloor for $7 foor*,. He bad served two centpaieni *•:,
on the Continent. Ile ised 'served alio in the West Indies and
lin the hands of Ministers, upon hearing the Mediterranean, in E
Vt' at Copenhagen and Watclierenl •
i
!re to receive them, renewed their claims, at the tattyr of whkii phenolic. had caught the feiir had . lie ! 4
'hied the payments which had already woo Isnennted Irf die app scion of Sir Themes Mon, :Sir
thirty years. John Steam, and Earl • diam. When the troops embarked . 1
from Elypt, many of them were Infected with tike plague and ' 1 •
SUPPLY. • Sir J. Webb 'volunteered to remain. and take charge of the inl
rcELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved forted troops I be did so. and laved the flies of many '
:of them
the Day for bringing up the Report of . Colonel DAVIES asked. Whose statest*nt It was that tho • 4 l
to of Supply. Honouiable Member referred to in Ms detail of the arils a . L.,.
WELL had understogd that in the last Sir '7' Webb ? •••
Mr. 11. WARD said, It watt the statement of Ste .I, Webs
Ordnance. Board stood pledged to the himself—(Hear heat, from the Opposition).-,He could not
heir old stores should in future be sold misunderstand the meaning of that cheer. He was really our. ft
~
mtract on biddings. He had been in- prized at the insinuation conveyed by it; Sir J. Webb was ad i
since that period private sales had taken (Micer of rank and a Gentleman. It surely conk" .net fie sup:. , .
•
sed that he would ad.
tad also heard it stated that persons had Po Colonel DAVIES rawvance DAVIES order.untruth The obeervatiOns of the k 1 ,
their contracts when they were found Hon. Member might have been spared. He (die Colonel) had ni
re disadvantageous. intention to question the veracity of Sir J. Webb's statement.
ARD said, that he had admitted it was After a few words from Mr C. LONG, on the point of order,
_ _L__
_,, ,__,•_ r, _ n___.,
_,_ ___, A Mr. R. WARD said, that the exertions of Sir J. Webb bad !' -