Star.
London, England, 1802-05-22 00:00:00

moved for to-clay.

IRISH LINEN MANUFACTURE.
The Houfc having, on the Motion of Mr. Fos.
TER, refolved itfell Into a committee on the Irifh

Linen Bill,
Mr. WICK KAM obferved, that as the Law now
flood, the Colledor at each Port fummoned a Jury
of three competent perfons to examine the Flat !
Seed imported, in confequence of which examine.;
tion he branded it either as good or bad. The
Linen-Board having found this mode of examina-
tion impelled, propofed as a remedy to appoint
an Officer of their own in each Port, with power
to examine and deckle upon the quality of all Flax
Seed imported. He was of opinion-that the power
of examining and deciding upon the quality of the
Flax Seed imported, fhould not be given wholly
to the Infpedor appointed by the Linen Board,
but at the fame time that the Colleftor fhould not
brand any Flax Seed until the fame fhould be
certified to him by the Officer appointed by that
Board. He concluded by propoling an Amend-
ment to the above erred.
Mr. FOSTER °Merced, that this was a meafure '
of confiderable importance, of the maintenance of
I a great number of families in Ireland depended
upon the importation of good Flax Seed. He
wifhed that the Infpedors appointed by the Linen
Board, (hould be wholly refpontible to that Board
for the goodnefs of the feed imported. The Right I
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wickham), had propored
that the Infpedor thould examine it, but that the'
Collettor should brand it. The brand was a tell
of the goodnefs of the feed : if the Right Hon.
Gentleman thought the Colledor llonld brand it,
and receive a fee, he (Mr. Fofter) had no objec-
tion, but let the Infpzetor brand it afro.
Mr. BE RISFORD defended the Colleftors from
any imputation of neglelt of duty. Several ar-
ticles, he faid, might be fmuggled concealed
amongft Flax Seed, and it was important that the
Collators fhould examine it for the purpofe of dill
covering thole articles, if any fuch there were.
Mr. Fos Tea obferved, that the power would (till
remain to the Colledors to fearch for fmuggled
goods, whether this Bill pallid or not.
Mr. BERE S FORD and Mr. FOSTER explained.

Lord CASTLEREAGH laid, that the AMendment,

with a little alteration, might be made to meet the
ideas of both parties. The Linen Board, in order
to prevent bad Flax Seed from being imported,
had thought it a proper meafure to have
tors ; but it would be going too far to fay, that
the King's Officers fhould not alto infpat : he
thought that the Infpator and Collator would be
checks on each other, and that the duty would be
better done. A very fimple alteration was re•
quired, which was, that each fhould braltd the
Flax Seed, and then there would be a double fe-

curity for its goodnefs : this alteration would, he
thloght, anfwer the objelt of both parties.
Mr. Wic glum profefred himfelf perfatly lath-
fled with the Amendment propofed by the Noble
Lord. Every attention had been (hewn by Go-
vernment to the Linen Board; all that was defired
by that Body was, that the Flu S:ed fhould not
pars into the Country without a Certificate from
the Infpator that it was -found : perhaps the
Amendment of the Noble Lord might better an-
fwer that purpofe.
Mr. ALEXANDER thought it efrential that the
Collator fhould at with the Infpeitor.
Mr. STEWART thought it highly probable • that
the Amendment propofed by the Noble Lord
would anfwer both purpofes.
Mr. Coaav faid, that when this fubjat was be-
fore under confideration, he had Sated the obfer-
vations that occurred to' him, which he now beg-
ged leave tq recall to the attention of the Commit-
tee, in order to Ihew that the vote he fhould give
was perfeely conliltent with the principles he had
before maintained. He then Sated that there was
reafon to believe that the duty which was to be
performed by theColledors had been in fume cafes
negligently performed. In Paying this, he could
not be fuppofed to make any charge againit the
Collators perfonally ; but though he acquitted
them of any ad ofCommiffion, yet he Sill thought
that in fome cafes there was an Omiffion of their
duty, in not fufficiently attending to the mode of
the examination of the Flax Seed. He therefore
thought that fome arrangement was necelrary.—
He wifhed to exprefs his willingnefs to accede to
the principles of the Linen Board, which was to
call in the Infpedors of that Board in aid of the
gollators. He had refereed himfelf on that occa-
lion upon two points; the &ft was with regard to
the Patronage of the Crown, the other related to
the Tax to be laid upon the Public, in order to
form a compenfation to the Collators, who were.
to continue to he paid, although they were to be
abfolved from the performance of the duty. By
the mode now propofed, the Patronage of the
Crown remained entire; by the prefent mode no
Tax was %) be laid upon the Public, in order to
furnith a compenfation for perfons who were not
to perform the duty. There points being fettled"
be felt himfelf at liberty to concur in the arrange-
ment propofed for continuing the Collators with
the aid of the Infpedors of the Linen Board. 'Be-
ing thus at liberty, according to the principles he
had before advanced (and which by no means
went the length that had been infinuated, of throw-
ing blame upon the Colleaurs), he Stouts' accede
to the,plan now propofed. With regard to the
Amendment, he undertlood it to be, that the In-
fpator Mould put a Stamp upon the Ct(k, where-
as by the Amendment of his Right Hon. Friend
(Mr. Wickham), the Infpdlor was to give a Cer.

tificate to the CAleanr, upon which he was to'
brand the Calk. What was the difference between
the'two plans ?—ln filbftance none : by the firft
amendment, the, branding depended upon the Cer-
tificate of the Infpeaor, the Colleaor being only a
Minifterial Officer. In the prefent cafe, the In-
fpeaor, inftead of a Certificate, which is to be filed
in the Cullom Houle, was to affix a mark with a
hot iron upon the calk. Thefe regulations were
in effea the fame, but if the plan now propoled,
of branding inftcad of certifying by the Infpeaor,
was more generally agieed on, he was willing to
concur in ,and the more fo, as it was perfealy
conformable' 'to the opinion of theCornmittee above
(lairs.
Lord CASTLERTAOH contended, that the Brand
was fuperior to aCertificate, and was a better pro.
teltion againft the probability of unfeundnefs in
the feed.
Mr. CORRY laid, the Certificate mull specify the
mark and number of the package, and he thought
it would be equally efficacious as a Brand.
Mr. DAWSON laid, he had heard nothing to
convince him that the Bill in its original (late
might not have anfwered every purpofe that was
wanted.
After a few words from Mr. ORMSBY,
Mr. Fosrst fuggefted the propt.e, y of reporting
progrefs, and Acing leave to fit again.
The CHANCELLOR of the ETCHEVER raid, it
mull be the with of the Right Hon. Gentleman,
and of every one, to enfure difpatch to this meafure,
and therefore he thought it would be better to go
through the Committee, and bring up whatever
claufes were to be propofcd on the Report, as a
(lege would be thereby gained.
A short converfation enfued between Mr. Fos-
TER, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEOYER, Mr.
WICKHAM, and Mr. HosHouss (the Chairman),
when, it being found that one of the amendments
propofed went to enact a penalty,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQPIR obferved,
that no provifion enforcing a penalty could be pro-
poled on the Report.
After tome .further converFation between Mr.
FOSTER, the ATTORNEY GENERAL, and the CHAN-
cELLoa of the ExcHEctusit, it was agreed to re-
port progrefs, and afk leave to fit again.
The Hoeg haring refumed, Mr. Hosnouss
reported progrefs, and the Committee were ordered
to fit again on Monday.

POVCE.
The Houle, on the motion of the ATTORNEY
Gassiest., having refolved itielf into a Committee,
to confider of certain Ads refpeding the Police of
the Metropolis,
The ATTORNEY GENERA j. faid, the objed he
had in view was to increafe the falaries of the Ma-
giftrates of the Police Offices, and of the Officers
employed there; and alfo the wages of the Con-
ftables. He propofed to increafe the falaries of the
Magiftrates to pool. per annum, and wages of the
Conftables to 16s. per week. He moved that pro-
vifion fhould lie made out of the confolidated fund,
if neceffary, to defray the charge of additional fa-
laries to the Jultices and Officers employed at the
Police Offices.—Agreed to.—Report on Monday.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL.
Mr. W. WYNNE moved the recommital of the
Bill for extending the provifions of the Lords' Aa.
Mr. Mc MOLLS was averfe to the confederation of
this important meafure, in fo thin a Houfe.
Mr. W. Wvems laid, that the prowets of. the
Bill had been fo often retarded for the lame yeafon,
he Mould not content to poftpone it any farther.
Mr. NICHOLLS (poke at tome length againft the
principle and proviiions of this Bill.—He condemn
ed it for giving as much facility to the fade Of free-
hold property as of tables or chairs ; and becaufe,
that if an ellate fhould be fold under a judgment
obtained, if that judgment fhould afterwarth be
reverted by this Bill, the Defendant would only be
entitled to claim the money which the tale of his
property might have produced, and not the pro-
perty itfelf. In his eftimation it went to, abrogate
and reverie the whole fytlem of law, with refpea
to landed property. If freehold eftates were tut-
fered to be feized in execution, as the Bill propof-
ed, there would be a total revolution in the land-
ed intereft. Country Gentlemen would be deprived
of their hereditary polreffions ; and eltates, which
for centuries had defect:tied in lineal fucceffion,
would devolve to uturers, lawyers, and money
kriveners. Under all the circumftances, not con-
ceiving that there was any preffing immediate ne-
ceflhy for this meafure, he moved that the recom-
mitment fhould be poftponed to this day three
months.
Sir H. Mitomay fupported the amendment.
Mr. HARCOURT difapproved of the Bill, becaufe
it would put freehold property under the bankrupt
laws, without allowing the proprietors the advan-
tage of that to which all Bankrupts were entitled,
namely, what was called a whilesvgfr,or a certificate.
Mr. BURTON wifhed the Bill to-be recommitted,
in order that the unexceptionable claufes might be
retained,• and that thole which were objcaed to
might be re fervedfor dikutfion on a future occallon.
Mr. Haat tsott admitted there were tome good
'parts in the Bill, but that they were conneaed
with claufes, which to him were to abominable, that
he fhbuld recommend to get rid altogether of the
heterogeneous mixture. He though tt rather rafts
in a young man wantonly to propofe fuch an in-
novation an our old code of laws, without conful-
tation or advice with lawyers of tome experience.
Mr. W. Wye w e vindicated himfelf from the
charge of raihnetsr which he was perfuaded the
, Hon. Member•awould not have attempted to im-
lone to him had se attended his duty in that
Houk, and known that fo far back as lait Seffion,
he gave notice of his intention to bring this mea-
lure forward—a meafurc which, in fa& had the
approbation of two of the higheft legal charaaers
this cauntry had long known—one of whom, un-
happily for the fake of morals, religion, and law,
WAS now no more ( Lord Kenyan)—and the other
(the Lord Chancellor), had favoured the Bill with
his atUllance throughout. In proof of the neceffity
which called for Inch a Bill as the prefent, the Hon.
Member Raced, that he had a letter in his pocket
which mentioned, that there were not lets than as
perfons in the Fleet Prifon who declined to avail
themfelves of the Taft Infolvency M, becaufe they

•

were unwilling tb pay their jun debts. There was
alto, he undernood, a Captain of a fhip, who,
having furrendered his veffel to an enemy, with-
out any refinance, alledging at the time of fur-
render, that he would not fight for the Under.
writers—an anion was in confequence brought
again(' him, and a verdia was obtained for fix
Ihoufand pounds damages. This Captain was now,
under that verdiet, a prifoner in the King's Bench
pat, refuting to make any compromife, though
frequent propofals were made to him from the
Plaintiff, and though he was notorioufly a man of
confiderable property. The Hon. Member alto
Rated a circumftance with refpeet to an Irifh Sur-
geon, who remained in prifon in South Wales, and
followed his profeffion, chufing rather to do fo
than pay his debt of fix hundred pounds, though
poffeffed of a confiderable landed eftate in Ireland.
The Hon. Member concluded with expreffing his
readinefs to give up the claufe retpeSing real pm.
perty, rather than to endanger the fate of the Bill.
The Houfe went into the Committee, and the
Chairman was direded to report progrefs, and afk
leave to fit again. The Houfe rammed, and the
Committee was ordered to fit again Tuefday next.
The other orders of the day being gone through,
the Houfe adjourned till to-morrow.