Star.
London, England, 1801-04-29 00:00:00

RILL TO PREVENT SEDITIOUS MEETINGS.

On the third reading of this Bill,
The Duke of Iltoroao Paid he had attentively
read over the late Report of the Committee of
Secrecy (for a copy of which fee the lall Page of
this Paper) and that he did not find in it a fingle
fait that could render filch a Bill as this neceffary.
Their Lordfhips, in fhort, had no evidence what-
ever to proceed upon. They did not know
from whom or from what defeription of perfons
the Committee had received the information on
which it grounded its report: nor had they the
opportunity of hearing their evistikce, or of exam-
ining them. The only foundation, therefore, on
which the Houfe could:proceed was merely the
opinion of the Committee, that the Bill was necef-
fary. His principal objeaion to the Bill was, that
of its infringing on the Conftitution of the Conn- ,
try, fuch as it was ellablifhed at the time of the Re-1
volution ; and its doing away all the privileges I
arifing out of the Bill of Rights. The People had
a right to meet and difcufs public meafures, by
which they were likely to be affected. It was be-
neficial to the Conflirution of the Country that
they Ihould meet and deliberate, becaufe it would
operate as a falutary check on Government ; and
inform Parliament of the real fentiments of the
people. But it would now reft in the difcretion
of a Magiftrate, whether any fuch meetings were
to take place or not ; and there would always be
Magiftrates enough found ready to forward the
views of the Executive Government; by prevent-
ing men from difculling their rights, or complain-1
ing of their grievances, on the pretence that they
were acting feditioufly. Befides this Bill would
never anfwer the objea it had in view : It might
prevent meetings from taking place ; but it would
never do away the difpofition to meet; it would
never correa, but rather increafe the hoftilityl
which men might have formed again( the Go-
vernment.. The greater reftraints were laid on the
people the lefs regard or refpea would they have
for the Government. If Parliament withed to put
a flop to complaints and to (edition, the molt ef-1
feaual mode of doing fo would be, to relieve the
diftreffes of the People. During the time this law
continued in force, it had no otherffea than that
of preventing meetings ; it now appeared that the
(pint of Sedition had neither been crufhed not di-
minifhed. The Bill therefore was not only nfelefs
but mifchievous.
The Earl of WESTMORELAND denied that the
Bill would in any manner infringe on the Bill of
Rights, for all perfons would (till have the power
of meeting conftitutionally, for the purpofe of pe-
titioning againft any meafure that might affect
them. The only reltraint was, that the names of
thofe calling the meeting, together with the bufinefs
for which they were tomeet,fhould bemade known,
in order that the Civil Officers might be apprized
of it ; and that very circumllance would tend to
promote the object of the meeting, if it was for a
legal and conflitutional purpofe ; and if it was not,
the Maglftrates ought to have the power of fup-
preffing it. So far from this being a rellraint or
hardflup on the people, he conceived it to be dic-
tated by humanity and compaftion ; and if filch a
law had been in force during the year t 780, not
only the dreadful riots which then difgraced the
Metropolis would never have taken place, but ma.
ny innocent lives would have been laved—inno-
cent, becaufe numbers of perfons at tirft joined in
the crowd without any intention of doing wrong,
but afterwards committed acts of outrage and de•
predation, for which they paid the forfeit of their
lives, either by military execution at the moment,
or afterwards upon the fcaffold. This Bill has
been in force for the (pace of five years,and yet but
one complaint of the mircondua of Magillrates
was made in the Courts below, and then the par-
ties were nonfuited—this his Lordetip thought
a good argument in favour of the meafure, it
'hewed their Lordfhips that they need not now
be afraid to place fuch power as this Bill gave, in
the hands of a Pet of refpeaable Gentlemen, who
in the (pace of five years had not once allured it.
When the Bill was firfl brought forward, it met
with much oppofition ; but this, his Lordlhip laid,
mull evidently have proceeded from mifeonception
and mifreprefentation. At that time there were
many petitions againfl it—now, not one—a proof
that the country was convinced of its being a fa-
lutary meafure. If fuch a law had elated in
France previous to the Revolution, that country
would molt likely not have to lament the fcenes of
bloodfhed and confulion which it experienced for
fo many years, the confequences of which had been
fo feverely felt in every direction. The joy of the
confpirators at the expiration of the Bill, and their
alarms at its revival, were proofs to their Lord-
nips, that it was looked upon by them as a mea-
fore tending to counteract their dangers.—Was
not it a proper time, his Lordlhip axed, for Go-
vernment to take meafures of precaution, fuch as
the prefent, when their Lordfhips Paw by the Re-
port of their Secret Committee, that die confpi-
rators had formed delve againft the lives of fume
of the Members of that Government—when a fyf.
tern of organization was ellablilbed upon the fame
principles as hzd been praftifed in Ireland, and
carded all the miferies that unhappy country ex-
perienced—when difaffation and evil minded per-
fors were going about, adminittering oaths and
mok,ng proselytes to their opinions ? In the arb
year of the Reign of his prefent Majefty, a Bill
Wal palled without any oppolition, to prevent ig-
nor, at perfons 6 om pronouncing religious leaures
on Sundays, by making it nccelfary that perfons
who pronounced leaures fhould obtain a n.
cence. How much more n.:ceif.iry was it to lay
a restraint on ignorant political leaorers, whole
duariacs went to the fubwrfion of all order—to

the dcltruition of the Confkitution itfelf ? After
a few other obfervations before ufed in favour of
the meafure, his lordfhip concluded, by trufting
the Houfe would that night pars the Bill ...
The Bill was then read a third time and paffed.
Campbell's Divorce Bill was read a ficond time,
after which the Houfe adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Several Public Accounts were prefeasted and ordered to lie
on the 'Table.

Mr. But vox prcfented the Report of the Committee on the
St aiding Orders of the Houle, relative to Bills of Inclofure,
which was ordered to lie on the Table,to be printed, and to be
taken into farther confider.r.lon on Monday next.
Mr. Astor prefei.ted the Report of the Committee ap•
pointed to confider the molt effectual ms tiled of promulgating
the Statutes of the United Kingdom through every part of
Great Britain and Ireland, which was ordered to lie on the Table,
and to be printed.
A Medfage from the Lords figniSed that their Lordfhips had
agreed to one Private Buil.
The fecoud reading of the Coal Bill was deferred till Tuef-
day next.
Sir W. SCOTT delayed his motion refpeeting the regulation
of the Vice-Admiralty Courts till to-morrow.
A Mefrage irons the Lords fignified that their Lordfhips had
agreed to the Seditious Meeting Prevention Bill, without any
Amendment.

The Report of the Committee of Ways and Means was
brought up, read, and agreed to; and on the motion of Mr.
Cogy it was made an initrudion to the Committee, on the
Irifb Sugar Diftillery Bill, to make provifion accordingly.
The Houfc refolved Well into a Committee to coniider the
propriety of empowering the Lord Lieutenant of Inland to
prohibit the exportation from, and permitting the importation
Duty free into Ireland, of all kinds of provilions.—The Report
was ordered to be received to-morrow.

The Report of the Committee on the Duties on the Importa-
tion of Hops iuto Ireland, was brought up, rtod, and agreed
to, and a Bill ordered to be brought in purfuaot to it.
DUCKWORTH'S DIVORCE BILL.

Duckworth's Divorce Bill went through a Com-
mittee of the' whole Houle, Sir Robert Peele in
the Chair. Mr. Garrow appeared as Counfel for
Mr. Duckworth, and called feveral witnelfes to
fubftantiate the guilt of Mrs. Duckworth. As the
circumilances of the cafe are already well known
to the public, it is unnecetlary to enter into any
detail of it now.

Mr. SIMEON thought it better to intimate in this
Rage of the bufinefs, before the Counfel had with-
drawn, that he cannot, on the evidence produced,
give his confent to this Bill, but will oppofe it on
the fecond reading, if farther evidence is not ad-
duced.

Mr. GARROW was again called in, and asked if
he had any more evidence to produce ?
Two more witnefres were called and examined,
and Mr. GAIROW was proceeding to comment on
the evidence, when he was ordered to withdraw,
and the Committee refolved, that as no Counfel or
witneffes were celled on the other fide, no COM. I
ments could be heard from the Counfel for the Bill
on the evidence which he himfelf had called, con-
fidently with the orders and rules of the Houfe.
Mr. Garrow was called in and informed of this
Refolution.

Mr. SI 14 LON then rote, and entered at tome length
into an examination of the evidence, and endea-
voured to Phew that it was extremely defettive in
eltablifhing any aaual criminality.
Mr. EGERTON fupported the Bill, and declared
himfelf convinced by the evidence.
Sir W. SCOTT expreffed his opinion, that the
evidence was fuificient to fubftantiate the allega-
tions of the Bill.

The Bill then pafred the Committee, and the
Report was ordered to be received.

IRISH COULTS OT LAW.

ME. GEORGE PONSONBY moved, that there be
laid before the Houle the particulars of the amount
of the expence of the Courts of Exchequer, Com-
mon Pleas, and King's Bench, in Ireland, the to-
talssof which are expreffed in accounts on the table.
Mr. CORRY had no oblation to, the produftion
of the papers moved for, fo far as related to the
papers themfelves, but he believed it was ufual
always to give notice of any motion for papers,
and in the prefent inflame this form of the Houfe
had not been fully and driEtly complied with.—
However, if the Houle chofe to overlook this irre-
gularity, he fhould not oppofc the motion, or if the
Hun. Gentleman would withdraw it for this day,
and give notice of it for to-morrow, he thould then
chearfully accede to it.
The SPEAKER Paid, that when there was any Tea-
fon to apprehend oppofition to a motion for papers,
it was cuaomary to give notice of it, Gut it is very
well known, that motions are often made and
agreed to for papers, without any previous notice
being given. Befides, in jultice to the Hon. Gen-
tleman who made the motion, he mutt obferve,
that he had given a general notice of his intention
to call for papers of the purport at leaft, of thefe
now moved for.
After a few words in explanation from Mr. G.
Ponfonby, the motion was put and agreed to.

11113 N TENSION LIST. ..-

Mr. GEORGE PONSONSY laid, there were feveral
other papers which he intended to move for. He
haped that there would be no oppofition to their
prod uaion ; but, lefi there Amid, to obviate the ob.
jeaion from form, he would now give notice, that
he trould to-morrow, move for an account of the
amount of the Irilh Penfion Lill, and of the Grants
to certain perfons, with the dates of thefe Grants.
Alfo, for an account of all fume granted to perfons
holding Offices in Ireland, who have fuffered in
confequence of the Unior.. And alto, for an ac-
count of the difpofition of the (um of 4tool. veiled
in the hands of certain Commillioners in Ireland.
*He farther exprelfed his intention of moving for
certain other accounts which he fpecified, for the
purpofe of removing fume difficulties which he felt
in underfianding how the money voted for the fer-
vice of Ireland can be adequate to the expenses of
that country, taking there expenses for the year at
the average of the two preceding ones.