Star.
London, England, 1823-05-23 00:00:00

know what they were sending up stairs. He there-
fore thought that the Standing Order was perfectly
impracticable. 'the Honourable Member for York-
shire had triumphantly told them on a preceding
craning, that a Bill which he had introduced had
been referred to a Select Committee. But that Bill
hid only affected the interest of particular parties;
sad therefore a Select Committee was the best place
in which it could be tried: He certainly did not pre
tend to be a more critical judge of words than other
Gentlemen; but he would say, that the Order was
not applicable to the present case, and therefore he
thought that it would be better to refer it to a Com-
mittee to determine what was its true meaning, and
to report whether it should be continued. The Right
Honourable Gentleman then moved, " that the Stand-
ing Order be referred to a Committee to report on its
intention and meaning; and also to report whether it
should remain a Standing Order of the House or not."
Mr. S. WORTLEY said, that the Standing Order
had been *introduced for the purpose
snow used, via.
to prevent particular measures from being passed re-
lative to trade,' without time being given to those in-
terested to consider the measure. He begged to state,'
that there was a Bill on-the table which was a parti-
cular illustration of the beoefit of this Order. He
alluded $0 the Bill For taking away the stamping of
Linen, on which a very great difference of opinion
prevailed. Now bethought these people had a right
to be heard on the subject. -The Right Honourable'
Gentleman might say, why did they not come to the
Board of Trade? Why, because other parties had
been there befOre them, and the Right Honourable
Gentleman had made up his mind.. The question
was on a complete matter of fact. It was this—Was
the stamping of linen of service or not? There were
persons of both Opinions : both deserved to be heard;
and, therefore, the Standing Order was of great ser-
vice as applicable to that case.
Mr. D. BROWNE thought, that the Standing
Order was applicable to cases like -that which had
given rise to the discussion. With respect to the
stamping of linen, he had never heard any other opi-
nion, than that the taking off the stamp would be
fatal to the linen trade. He thtrefore agreed with
the Honourable Member for Yorkshire, m thinking
that the Order ought not to be repealed at all.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that any one who listened to the arguments brought
against the measure now proposed, would suppose
that they were °Sewn-nibs tome regulation Which
had been passed cenntries ago. But the fact was,l
that the Order had originated from the same wisdom'
that now surrounded them. For his own part, he
would say, that he never would have consented to
the Standing Order, if he had contemplated such
construction as that now put upon it. Gentlemen
had often blamed Government for, not taking into
their hands the removal of restraints on trade; and
now, when they availed themselves of the only means'
they had of doing so, when they acted upon princi-
ples which all recognized, they were met by objets..
tions a hich completely went against the
He hoped the House would support Government in
their attempt to act upon a sound principle.
Sir R. FERGUSON rase to observe, that the va-
riety of`opinion on the stamping of linen was be- j
tween the manufacturer and die stampofficer, who
would lose their phttek. • •
Mr. S. WORTLEY-explained.
Mr. C ALCR A Fr wished to say a word Or two-on
the real question, which appeared to have been for-
gotten by the Gentleman near him. ' No one on that
side of the House wished to throw obstacles in the
way of the Right'HonourableGentleman, but they
said there was a Standing Order olie. House which
obliged him to refer a. Milan a Select Committee be-
Pus it *as brought into the House. And this the
HonOurableiGentleman called an impediment; but
it was no more im impediment thin the second or
thirtreading of Bill. The Standing Order had
been referred to a Select Committee, df which the
Right Honourable Gentleman had been one; and
the reason of its being passed had been, that there
had been a shameful tampering with a branch of
tradein which a great part of the nation was inte-
rested. Now, they had no wish to interfere with. the`
Right Honourable.Gentleman's right principle. If
he was right now, he had been so long enough ; and
they who recollected how the Right Honourable
Gentleman had persisted in the Naval and Military
Pension Bill, 'against the wish of •the House; would
think that this 'new light had only broken in upon
him vera.lately, and now became to tile:question
(A Laugh).—He thottght that the meaning of the
Order was So clear that there was no need whatever
to refer it to"a Committee; but if such was the wish
of the House, he would not oppose it.
The LNIANCELLO/t of the Eattranyza explained.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, that no one would ac-
cuse him of wishing to oppose the introduction of a
principle width had been ddayed too long. His re-
minks,-therefore, would have the advantage of being
unsuspected. He thought that the Standing Order
Onf.tht CO be referred to a Select Committee, which
was the Parliamentary course, and he hoped that his
Honourable Friends dear him would not object to it.
Lord MILTON thought the better way would be
to refer the Dig tb a Committee.
Mr. RICARDO hoped thittlis Majesty's Ministers
would not be' discouriged; but persevere in ridding,
the country of the' tnithy obnoxious laws which at
present existed. '
Mr. CANNING toiticided-in the coarse suggested
by the Noble Lord (Milton), 'of sendihg the Bill to.a
.Committee; but as the discussion had arrived, he
thoupt it would be better to have a decision at once.
Atter a • few words from Mr. Burros and Mr.
Huss tssoN;
• Mr. P. MOORE thought, that the Oicier ought to
be referred to a Committee. He was somewhat in-
-terested in the subject, because he had brought a
Bill into the House for the repeal of fOrty:four Acts
of Parliament.—The motion was then agreed to, and
a Committee appointed
' INTERFERENCR WITH SWITZERLAND.
Mr: BROUGHAM, seeing the Right lion. Gen-
tleman'the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his place,
withetlaci ask him a piestion fiamdedcat information
that-he had received, Which, if not entirely authentic,
was at least entitled to Mine credit.; -it Ipparendy re-,
hued to a 'farther developemmit of the -system on
which the-Holly Alliance proceeded: That informa-
tionivaslii ',the ',Weft, that lately, notwitliitanding
all the efforts of the Swiis Cantons to court the favour