Star.
London, England, 1814-04-01 00:00:00

CLERGY PENALTIES' BILL.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY moved the seeend read
ing of this Bil!, which, his Grace observed, was merely to con-
tinue until the 20th of April, the suspension of proceedings insti-
tuted against certain Clergymen, as expressed in the title.
The Bill was torthwith read a second time, and committed
for to-morrow.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE took occasion to enquire,
whether the Most Reverend Prelate purposed to state the
grounds on which the measure troceeded, to-morrow, or on any
future stage of the Bill ?
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY observed, he thought
that their Lordships were already in possession of the grounds.
The Bill was only to continue the existing Act for one month
longer, in order to afford Parliament time to consider, whether
any, or what, ulterior measures were fit to be adopted on the
subject.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. FAWCErf presented a Petition against the India Ship-
ping Bill. 'The Petition was ordered to lie on the Table.
The Sit ERItES of LONDON appeared at the. Bar, and presented
a Petition, conformably to the Resolutions of the Common
Council, for leave to have the General Post Office removed to a
more convenient situation, by the erection of a new building for
the same. They also presented a Petition for leave for a Bill to
improve and widen certain parts of the City, by building a new
street, &c.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that al
though the proposed alterations, as far as they related to the
Post Office, might be very proper and convenient ; yet, as they
would involve a considerable espence to the Public, it was im-
possible for the • l'reasury to consent to them, without the minutest
previous enquiry.
The two Petitions were then ordered to be referred to a
Committee. _ _

The Committee on the Salt Duty Bill was put off till to-
morrow.

GOLD COIN BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
moved the second reading of the Gold Coin
He observed, that having stated the nature and ob-
ject of the measure on a former occasion, he should
not trouble the House with many explanations ; hut
he could not help observing, that its object was to
prevent ;he gold coin of the Realm from being sold
at a price beyond its nominal value. Hitherto every
breach of the law on this subject had been pursued
under the •Bill, and occasioned by the Bill itself;
but in future, although it were not possible to pre-
vent offences, they might be diminished; as the in-
tent of the Bill was not so much the punishment of
crime, as the deterring its commission by the fear of
the penalty.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, he was certain that
a Bill of this r.ature could not exist without produc-
ing serious effects on the country. Much bad been
said of the good effects that would result from it in
its former shape, not any of which had appeared. On
the contrary, the evil went on; and his Right Hon.
friend opposite was perfectly nonliter'd when called
on to tell the How what benefit it had produced. It
was clear that he had not looked over the Statute
Book, or he would have found that an Act to effect
all tliat was required was still in force. By a law of
Ireland, any man who buys a guinea or half7a-guinea,
at a depreciated price, is subjected to a penalty of
450. ; and if he buys any number, the penalty is
'MO: So that, when the present law his passed,
any person in Ireland nay be punished if ki purchase
a guinea for either more or less than its nominal value.
The Hon. Gentleman contended that this Act would
.ncit have been necessary if the country -were not
iiverburthened with paper•money ; but at all events,
if it were sufferedr o pass, the other shouli be removed
from the Statute-book.—The Bill was then read, and
prdered to be committed to-morrow.
mut SHIPPING itEGULATION BILL.
The CHANCELLOR .of the —.EXCHEQMR
moved that a list of the several Acts of Zarhament
relative to Shipping, be produced and entered. He

should not propose any alterations in the Bill in its
present stage, as he conceived it would be far better
to have it printed, that the House might see it in its
proper form. For this reason he should not trespass
on the time of the House any farther than to state the
mere outline of the measure. Some Gentlemen were
apprehensive that it would tend to exclude a large
and valuable portion of our British built shipping
from the India trade; but this idea was incorrect.
The general plan of the Bill was to permit India-
built ships to be regularly employed for the purpose
of trading between China and Great Britain, but, not
to interfere with the general trade ; in fact, it was in-
tended that they should be confined to that branch ;
and certain regulations would be adopted, by which
those ships built in India, on arriving in England,
would be subjected to the same restrictions and regu-
lations as other plantation ships. It was likewise an
object of the Act to encourage ship-building in this
country. It was meant to take off all duties on ship-
timber imported, by which the contents of the vast
forests of India would be at the service of the nation.
The Right Hon. Gentleman said, that this was only
a faint outline of the principal objects of the Bill ; but
he should, at the present, abstain from farther re-
marks on it.
Alderman ATKINS could not but tlli7ik that out
of this bill some very important consequences would
arise to the country, and it was therefore worthy the
maturest consideration. He thought it would be
found unadvisable to allow registers to all ships built
in India, when the trade of ship-building in this coun-
try was in such a deplorable state. At present, how.
ever, he should merely move a list of the number of
ships built in the whole kingdom within the last three
years ; and with this document before them, the
House would judge what was the real state of the
business. It was of great importance to the coun-
try that ship-building at home should meet with all
possible encouragement ; for at no very remote pe-
riod, our merchant ships had been of service in the
naval battles of the country. He alluded to the
battle of Camperdown, when Government had an
opportunity of bringing merchant ships into battle,
of from 50 to 64 guns. When the papers in question
were looked into, the House would be able to foi
a just conclusion as to the importance of the subject.
Mr. PROTHEROE was not prepared to give his
private opinion on the general principle of the BM ;
but knowing the great interest of it to a numerous
and important class of society, he hoped that every
opportunity for discussing it would be afforded by his
Right Hon. Friend opposite.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
assured the Hon. Gentleman that the subject should
receive the fullest consideration ; mid whatever infor-
mation any Gentleman might think of the least im-
portance to illustrate the topic, should be immediately
laid before them.

General GASCOYNE said, he supposed there was
no intention of entering upon any discussion of the
subject before the recess ? to which
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
replied, that notwithstanding the immense mass of
Papers that were required, they were in such a state
of forwardness, that they would be ready in a very
few days • and he trusted that the second reading
would take place very shortly after the holidays.—
Leave was gkven to bring in the Bill.