Star.
London, England, 1823-02-25 00:00:00

PAIII.M3IENTARY PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 24.
Bancbax, and other Menthers from the Commons,
brought hp the Indemnity Hill, which was read the first time.
The E.rl oi DARN LEY pr:sented a Petition from Sheffield
against the Insolvent Debtors' Act.
Earl SOMERS presented a similar Petition from Hereford.
Petitions to the same effect were presented front Barnsley, Hud-
dersfield, and Grantham.

Il ER EFORD PETITION.

Earl SOMERS presented a Petition from the Nobility, Ger-
try, Clergy, and Freeholders, of Hereford, praying for Agricul-
ttrral Relief. The Noble Earl said, the Petition was. agreed to
a: a Meeting held on the 17th of January last : presenting it, he
should take the opportunity of making a few observations in
explanation of the p..rr he had taken with respect to the Meet-
ing. The Noble Kahl observed, that there were parts of the Pe-
tition relating to dktresses in Agriculture which he approved ;
tat in that part conveying a censure on his Majesty's Govern-
smut he could not concur. The Meeting was applied fur by a
selpectable number of persons who signed a Requisition, but the
Sh.riff would not comply. In consequence of i similar Requi-
seion to the lord Lieutenant, the Meeting was convened. His
Lordship was not disposed to add to the restraint Parliament
had laid on Public Meetings. Two respectable Gentlemen at-
tended and moved strong Resolutions, which suggested mea-
sures fur the relief of Agricultural Distress, and also a Petition
to Parliament. The Noble Earl considered it his duty to re-
commend persons having interest in the question, to attend and
oate their sentiments ; he was, however. sorry to say, he was
not successful. After the persons to whom he alluded had
moved the Resolutions, a Gentlemin well known (Mr. Ccbbett)
amy;red, and proposed a Petition of his own, similar to that
syluch he carritd at Norwich. Ile moved it as an Amendment.
he was certainly roughly treated. Several other Amendments
'wereproposed, and as darkness was fast drawing on them, the
noble Earl considered it his duty to put the last Resolution,
which was carried. The Petition which he presented was moved
by Mr• Leachmere Charlton, and adopted for three reasons:
First, front the circumstance of being the last proposed. Se-
(1"Ii, because it superseded Mr. Cubbetes. And, thirdly, be-
cause it was strongly in favour of Agricultural Relief, all persons
being unanimous on that pint. The Noble Earl could not help
/231emiug more Get.tlemen were not present to express their
sersunents on the subject. Having said thus much, it only re-
rattled for hint to state his Opinion on the facts in the Petition.
Acme could deny Agricultural Distress Was great. %ally were
told it would all be well ly and bye. So it might be; but a
!lan could not satisfy himself with such a (Emma prospect, whilst
?saw Mtn, especially his tenants, shop about him day after
1-411. Considering the remedy for these distresses, he was ready
to admit that no man of plain honest dealing would desire to
vac public credit destroyed ; but certainly the public distress
",4gtit to be fairly shared. They ought to he just to the,
-Ifticukurists as well as 'to others. Dining war the land-
,..h°l4tr 'vas better off, but then he bore an exclusive burthen,
lar Paor-rates were almost exclusively thrown on him.-
3h. Pees Act, as it was called, came when the Landholder
tan to feel distress, and brought on rein. The Noble Earl was
a Sincere friend to public credit, but surely the Agriculturist
not to be the only person distressed. The Pour-rates and
taxation fell heavier on that class than on any other ; they had
thJr their bridges, and
,a variety of expenses to defray,
wkich
a did not press on the Fundholder. The severity of 'taxa-
"! operating ou their Teti huts, deprived them of the means of
ring rent, and cousequently io that view the Landholder must
!Ith•lfeler. Respecting the intention of the original law, let
th.o Luoiships at once vier to tit:: 431 of Queen Elizabeth.—
the N! I't""eti a the same expla sation would he maintained by
alhhe and Learned Lord
adra, • • • (Eldon) oppusite to him, whose
of thy laws of bit country had entitled hint most
etllukatiy to the cool/details and respect of terry utats. tic was