Star.
London, England, 1822-04-03 00:00:00

•1

fected the community generally. They comb
of the great falling off in trade, in consequence
severe liidress which prevailed in the country
prayed that retrenchment and economy
adopted in the public expenditure, and that the
should be restored to their just ihare in the
tore, by reforming the House of Commons.
Honourable Alderman then auloved that the
be brought up.
Sir W. CURTIS did not rise to oppose the Peti-
tion, as it had been carried by the Commoh Hall
with all the usual forms; but he was anxious to com-
plain that it conveyed the sentiments of a very small
• proportion -of the Members of the Corporation of,
London. It was adapted at a Meeting of SOO only,
• out of a body of 14,000. He eras far from agreeing
with the prayer of the Petition itself, but as it con-
tained nothing disrespectful in its language, he con-
sidered that there could be no objection to its being
received.
Mr. WILSON professed the greatest respect for
-the Corporation of the City of London, and for the
declaration of any part of them ; but on the present
occasion he felt that he could not concur with the
prayer of the Petitioners. He had been called on by
his Constituents to support it, not only by the adver-
tisement, but by the Officer of the Court of Alder-
men. He would be happy to do so were it consistent
with his principles. When he was called on to sup-
port the prayer of a Petition asking for economy, re-
form, and retrenchment, he did not know to what
length it was expected he should go. He might be
asked to join in every attempt at further reductions-.
in every vote of the Hon. Member for Aberdeen ; per-
haps for Annual Parliaments—for Universal Suffrage
—for Votes by Ballot : to this extent, perhaps,
.he
was required to go by the wishes of the Petitioners.
He had too much respect for his Constituents not to
believe but that they had sent him flee and un-
shackled into that House, and he was convinced it
would be their desire that their Representative should
remain there perfectly tree and independent. With
regard to the Meeting at which the Petition was
adopted, he must say, that it was composed of but
500 Members out of a body of 11,000. It was not
supported by the Aldermen—the Lord Mayor in his
official capacity, the worthy Alderman opposite (Al-
derman \i ood), and another worthy Alderman, not
at present a Member of that House (Waithman), were
the only Aldermen who attended it. He was disposed
*to consider the Petition not to be that of the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Corporation of Loudou, but
that of a very small part of them.
Alderman BRIDUES said, that the sentiments of
the City of London Were by nu means contained in
the Petition.

Alderman THOMPSON said, as the Petition was
carried at a Meeting of the City a London legally
convened, it should receive the due attention of the

House, though it was not numerously signed or in
.accordance with the opinion of the greater part of the
Corporation. He could not agree with many of the
sentiments it contained; tOr, atter the retrenchments
that had been exercised in every department of the
State, he could not join in a request for further re-
duction, or go to the same length in seeking Reform.
4r. Alderman WOOD said, that the numbers who
attended the Meeting were double or treble those
mentioned by the Honourable Baronet. There was
no necessity for the attendance of Aldermen in that
character; for they attended a Common Hall onk
as Liverymen : and in that capacity the Honourable
Member (Mr. .1. Wilson) ought to have attended.—
As for the statement, that the Petition did not express
the sentiments of the Livery, he had no doubt that
the Hon. Member (Mr. Alderman Bridges) thought
that die only pure Common Hall was that which had
elected hiniselt.—The Petition was then ordered to
lip on the table, and to be pi inted.
SCOTTISH Hi ESS.

Mr. ABERCRO3IBY said, that there was a ques-
tion of very gnat public importance, which he was
anxious to have brought before the notice of the
licuse. He alluded to the conduct of the Lord Ad-.
vocate, ss public protecutotin relation to the Press
in Scotland. There had been some late occurrences
of a melancholy nature, with which every person was
acquainted, which strengthened his intention. He
would not further allude to them. He would, on an
early day after the recess, bring the subject before the
itotice of the H..use; and he busted the Lord Advo-
cate would not give any opposition to his doing so.
The LORD ADVOCATE said, that be was not
di-posed tot oppose the subject being !nought forward.
He trusted that he could give the most satisfactory
explanations. He hoped, in the meantime, that Hon.
Members would kcep their minds unprejudiced upon
it, and not allow themselves to be influenced by emu-
news statements.

great puL
perhaps, under-the influence of, the very favourable
wanner in which the House had taken up the sub-
't. Though the • Petitioner had Oo actual claim
upon thern,'yet he deserved some consideration in the
feelings of the House, and might expect from them
• remuneration for-the actual loss he bad incurred.
Mr. P. 1400. RE thought, that if any compensa-
don was Oven' ia,tbe present instance; it would only
-act as an inducement for men to come forward with
new schemes, to the injury of old and established be-
neficial arrangements. It would serve as an encou-
ragement for innovations. It was merely an attempt
of experiment on the House, which they should re-
sist. If it was referred to a Committee, it would be
!attended there with considerable expense. He ob.s
jected to it altogether.
Mr. CALCRAFT ()nosed the motion. If the in-
dividual in question thought proper to put himself
to expense, he was at perfect liberty so to do; it was
not an affair in which the Public had any concern.—
He thought the best course the House could adopt,
was to reject the proposition of the Hon. Member.
If Ministers thought proper to encourage the indivi-
dual, it was competent to them to mate whatever
arrangements they pleased with him, provided the
public purse was not called upon.
Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that the expenses had
not been incurred after the failure of the experiment,
but during the progress of the Bill which had been
introduced on the subject. Whether or not this
formed a sufficient ground fur the present applica-
tion, it would be for the House to decide.
Mr. CAL RAF 1' said, that the explanation of the
Hon. Member only made the case worse.
Mr. N. CA LvERT thought it very hard not to,
allow the individual some remuneration, as he had
undertaken the plan under the immediate sanction of
the Government. It would be observed that there
was always a strong prejudice against new inventions,
and it was some time before the Public could be re-
conciled to Mail-coaches, which were now found so
useful to•them: *--He was of opinion that any plan
tending to facilitate commercial correspondence must
be of great advantage.
Mr. HUME made some observations against the
motion, contending that this was the first instance of
a speculator having applied to Parliament for remu-
minion after the failure of his experiment. lie en-
tirely agreed with what had been said by his Hon.
Friend, the Member tim-Wareham (Mr. Calcraft), that
if Ministers wished to make any arrangements with
the individual they might do so, provided they made
no pecuniary demand on that !louse.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob-
served, that the Petitioner had been led into expense
under the impression that his plan would ultimately
fie adopted, as in the first year, and part of the year,
following, it received the approbation of the House.
Mr. RICARDO declared himself decidedly op-
pose," to the claims of the party. It appeared that
the Ri811: II .n. Gentleman asked remuneration for
him on the score of compassi(ll ; but the House, acting
as the guardian of the public pulse, could not grant
it on that ground alone.
Mr. M r felt eerstiadel that, to accede
to this proposition, would be a precedent in favour of
all spectilators whose plans might prove unsuccessful.
Mr. DENISON said, that he thought the plea of
humanity could not be urged in favour of this person,
as he had killed several horses during the progress
'of his experiment.
Sir M. W. ItIDLEY was not a little surprised to
hear it argued now, for the first time, that an indivi-
dual ought to be remunerated merely because a plan
which he had proposed happened to be rejected.—
Much inconvenience, as well as a serious loss of horses,
had arisen in the North from the plan in question.
Mr. W. small maintained that the plan had
nothing ingenious or novel to recommend it. It was
nothing more than the substitution of a two-wheeled
for a tour-wheeled carriage.
After a few words from Mr. BF.NNET the House
divided, when the numbers s% ere—

For the Motion -
Against it 7

- 28

56
.. -8

Alter a few avgrde from the Loan ADVOCATE All
to the utility of the office, the motion was agreed to.
Mn HUME then moved for a similar Return of,
the Officers under commissions for the Herring
Fshet yof Great Britain, distinguishing the arilount of
bounties paid for Scotland and England.—Ordered.
The Honourable Member also postponed his mo-
tion relative to the lonian Islands, from the 14th in,
scant to the 14th of Mal.'
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring
in a Bill to enforce the residence of the Shea' of
Edinburghshire and Lanark. A •
Mr. WALLACE brought in a Bill to regulate the
Trade between the West Indies and America, which
was read a first time, and ordered to be read a sot
cond time on the 19th instant.
OPHTHALMIC INSTITUTION.
Mr. G. BANKES presented a Petition from Mr.
G. R. Melin, Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, com-
plaining that, in disobedience of the express injunc-
tions of a Committee of that House, Sir W. Adams
had published part, and made animadversions upon
his evidence, given before that Committee, 'relative
to the Ophthalmic Hospital. The Petitioner prayed
that in consequence of this, the House would order
the evidence taken before that Committee to be
printed, or would allow him to print parts of his own,
in order to repel the charges of Sir W. Adams. He
(Mr. G. flankes) prevented the Petition, as having
been the Chairman of that Committee, and although
he could not support the prayer of the Petition, he
hare' the end would be answered by his publicly
declarin?, what he had often told Mr. Nleling in pri-
vate, that in his opinion the statement of Sir W.
Adams was in no degree justified. lie moved that
tine Petition he brought up.

Mr. RENNET seconded the motion. lle pledged
himself some day to open the whole case to the
House, and to thew that the Duke of York's decision
on the subject was perfectly just and correct.

Mr. WlLMOrsaid, 'that when the time came fur
considering this question, it would far better become
them to follow the recommendation of the ComMit-1
tee, as contained in their Report; •iz: to consider only
what amount of compensation was to be made to Sir
W. Adams for his four rears constant attendance at
the Ophthalmic Hospitl for the public service: they
ought to discourage, rasher than encourage, the dis-
pute between the Medieall)oiird and Sir W. Adams.
The less they entered into private quarrels the better:

After a few observations from Mr. I)Awox, Mr.
Huste, and Mr. flaNtits, the Petition. ivas brought
up, read, and ordered to be printed.

SUPPLY.

The CH AStELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved
tie Order of the day for receiving the Report of the
Committee of Supply.

Mr. BROGDEN then brought up the Report,
which, after some conversation, ip.w.hich Mr. AR•
RCTUNOT, Mr. RICARDO, Mr. W. SMITH, and Sir J.
Yoniut participated, - was ,
agreed
to, with the excep-
tion of three of the Resolutions, which were post-
poned till :diet the holidays.
Mr. Allßurntni gave notice,- that on the 22d
April he would submit thz postponed items to the
consideration of the House; •

the
-et, bet, utidng to report; the Fonds have lowered. c,,,
tools opened at 791 for the Account; but are, up twthis
'7911 for the Account, and 791 fur Money.
It is rumoured on 'Change, that a private truer is in ton-,
stating that hostilities have commenced between the
and the Turks; but we cannot as yet trace the above report
any authentic source._

Foßum/ 31a.axe7.-111 Foreign Szeurltles are this tw.r;,:,,z
rather heavy, and but few buyers. This may be attribut'Al!,
the non-arrival of the French Mail, due yelttrday.—Spa;::
Bonds (Old), SS; Prussian, 901; Danish. 8611;
70/ 1; Columbian, Old, 107 ex. dlv.; Columbian, Kew, EC
STOCK EXCHANGE—ONE O'CLOCK.

Within the last hour the parties in the habit of rectivi:l,
presses have been selling, and Consols have experienced a dt;l:r.c,
and have been 24 low as 79* for the Account. Reports art, ver,
general, and of an unfavourable nature. It is said that Ilu:
has added to her demands on the Turkish Government, al.;
that the terms are of such a nature as cannot be accetkil
Unfavourable reports are also in eireubstion from Frans,,
that the French Funds come lower-88f. but we ate unable
trace them to any credible source.
ROYA I. EXCHANGE—ONE OCLOCK.
There is agcod deal doing in foreign Stocks, but the marle:
looks heavy.
FItICES OF STOCKS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
S per Ceti% Consols 79% Vs 3/4
.5 per Cent. Navy Anns. 103 A; 1027 s 103
Imp. 3 per Cts. 793/g—lndia Bonds, GI s. 02s. pre.
Exchequer Ilins of £l,OOO, 4s. 3s. Cs.
Ditto Small, ts. 4s. 7s. pre.
Consols for Acct. 79% % 3/4.

In oar last page will be found the Repo:t of the
Select Committee on Agricillture. It is but a weal:
document, and little calculated either to relieve ii.e
Agriculturists or to please the Public. The principle
on which it is founded is, however, highly objection-
able—that of relieving the Agriculturists by enhanc-
ing the price of grain, without at all reflecting that,
low as the price is, it is still out of the reach of .1
great mass of the population. The old system c:
protecting duties is to be resorted to ; and the Repo::
recommends that the import price should be Lel
somewhat lower than SOs. namely, at 70s. ; and t!..it
a duty from 12s. to 15s. should be imposed tip 11
foreign wheat, for home consumption, when the pike
is between 70s. and 80s.: when it reaches fio:a
to 85s. the duty to be ss. and when it excee,is SLi.
then the duty to be Is. The only hope for the con.
sumer is, that the price of grain may still, in spite cf
the Committee, continue so low in England ac nr:
to render foreign importation necessary to supply t:._
wants of the people. There is, however, something t)
wicked in attempting to force the principal necessa
of life to a price so far beyond the resources of
poor countrymen, and then preventing than f:
seeking relief against domestic monopoly, that it
cannot be too severely condemned.
The only novelty in the Report is a recommenda-
tion by the Committee, that whenever the average
price of wheat is under 60s. a quarter, the Govern-
ment should be empowered to advance a loan of
money upon a deposit of corn, to an amount not ex-
ceeding two-thirds of the value cf the corn deposited,
for a limited period. This plan of Government turn-
ing pawnbrokers is intended to relieve the farmer
without compelling him to have recourse to a market
already overstocked and glutted. This is but a feeble
expedient, and one of questionable policy. Its extent
too must be very limited; for Government does not,
we presume, contemplate erecting a granary in eves y
market town, with a Commissioner to receive pled ~;e;
of grain from the neighbouring farmers. This is a
subject we shall again advert to.

The French Papers of Friday, Saturday, and San-
day, have been received. In the sitting of Thursday
a most stormy debate arose on the Budget, in uhic!‘
the grossest personalities were indulged in by some
of the Deputies. The Minister at War concluded a
silly speech, on the expenses of his department, ui:7l
the following tirade —" Discord labours in the dark,
under pretence of defending liberties which nobody
dreams of attacking—(lnterruption on the left. A
voice—' Not a word of the Charted')—Wicked men
have conceived horrible expectations, but a wise and
revered King keeps a vigilant eye on their detestable
projects. The young soldiers crowd about that stand-
ard which we have all sworn to defend. Yesterday
you prophecied an approaching change ; I am of
that opinion; there will be a change ; the factious
shall be put down, and the Monarchy shall triumph
over its enemies !"—(Several voices on the left, 'the
Constitutional Monarchy !'—Agitation.) ‘.

M. LAFONT soon after rose, and, in allusion to a
complaint made by one of the Members, that the
army was commanded by Officers unknown to them,
said that all the old Officers were continued on the
army list, without distinction of party—(lnterrup-
tiox).—But neither justice nor generosity, nothing
could satisfy those proud spirits who were unwilling
to acknowledge the Royal clemency.
At those words there was a manifestation of sur-
prise on the left side, which was soon followed by a
movement of vehement indignation. All the Mem-
bers of that side simultaneously addressed the Speaker
in the most energetic terms. A number of voices
e:claimed—•insolent ! renegade ! wretch !

General SEM EL E then rube, and iu I loud voice el.

• • 1
=—_.-7--t.... -
Mr. PALM said, 010 e ineerpri . ' _ _
,__ , ging the menu[ .
.., . • l-71—.. , ~. ---a
unplainet t ;Limns sbookfbe Teom thf. •, ^ set a for , 'ye IH h .1.4.% IN ING STA R
•nce of l' betbn dor t was made . . applied imgiajoin
the yd
. -
ntry ;an an di 'dual ott wi out any of- So -. , , ded by mci a eturngf th ' % LONDON.
might, be ial tippet or rose of re , pemes of the Boar u the Bee. 17 ,
LheNnplef. The CHAN LO of CHEQUER said, ment of Mannfactot in Sc an ; the . ...of , e .
WEDNESDAY, APRIL S. 1822.
e Legisla- that the individual was at considerable expense in the officers and offices, with the amounts of salaries, and
ins. The experinients-he hicr-Vinige I-7i htt a view to create a the premiums paid upon manufactures for the last STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK:
le Petition great public benefit.. That expenie was, incurred, five years. ' • • • A great deal of business has been doing this month% Hi the
.. . . _ _ a_ JP - ___ -2 1r _ _ _ a _ _ _