Star.
London, England, 1812-06-26 00:00:00

PARLIAMEATtiRr • PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 2.5.

. -
The Irish Glass Drawbacks Bill, the Militia Adjutants' Bill,
the Illilitia Subalterns Bill, and the Bermuda Trade Bill, were
and a second time.

The Irish Bog Draining Bill was read the 3d time and passed.

EPISCOPAL PRECEDENCY.

The Covnmittee of Privileges met at half-past
three o'clock.

Lord REDESDALE desired the attention of

th it Lordships to the Petition of the Bishops of
Meath and Kildare. The claim mentioned in this
Petition was for a right of precedency, founded upon
a clause coatained in an Act of Parliament respect-
ing rank and precedency. It was there enacted, that
the Spiritual Peers of Ireland should take rank and
precedency next after the Spiritual Peers of England,
severally, according to their rank and degree. The
Rev, and Learned Prelates conceived, that, under
this Act of Parlia?nent, tlicy had a right to prece-
dency after the Bishops of London, Durham, and
Winchester. As to his own opinion, he was inclined
to think there would be considerable difficulty in re-
conciling this construction to the obvious meaning
of the words of the statute. With respect to Bishops,
he believed, as one order, there was no distinction,
though certainly the Bishops of London, Durham,
and Winchester, had precedency to other English
Bishops who ranked only according to the time of
their consecration ; and the Bishops of Meat!, and
Kildare were entitled to the same rank in Ireland
but this was a distinction amongst themselves, and
did not appear to be contemplated in the statute to
which he had referred. However, whatever m;ght
be his individual opinion, he thought it right to bring
the Petition under their Lordships' consideration ;
and for that purpose should move, " That the Bi•
shops of Meath and Kildare were entitled to their
claim of precedency."
The Bishop of KILDARE stated generally the
rank which had been always acknowledged among
the Spiritual Peers of England and Ireland previous
to the Union. There was a distinction in both coun-

tries as to the Archbishops, the Primate of all Ireland
and the Primate of Ireland, and again, there were
the Primate of all England and the Primate of Eng-
land ; and hence it arose that the Archbishop of.
Canterbury took precedence of the Archbishop of
York, and the Archbishop of Armagh preceded the
Archbishop of Dublin. Among the Bishops, who
were certainly one order, as indeed were the Archbi-
ahapc there was no precedency in general but as to
the time of consecration, excepting the Bishops of
London, Durham, and Winchester, in England, and
the Bishops of Meath and Kildare, in Ireland, who
preceded all the others in each kinjll!om respectively,
without regard to any other circumstances. By the
Act it was generally provided that the Bishops of
Ireland of equal degree with those of England should
take precedence after those of England. But if the
words of that provision were strictly construed; they
would, he believed, admit that it was intended that
the Bishops of Meath and Kildare should take pre-
cedency after those of London, Durham, and Win-
chester, but b.-fore the rest of the English Bishops.
The Bishop of MEATH was desirous of dis,
charging his duty for the benefit of the office he
held, but beyond that lie was not anxious about the
decision. +le generally agre.:d with the observations
made by the Reverend Prelate who had just sat
down, and he left the determination to their Lord-

ships' judgment.
The Duke of NORFOLK was satisfied in his
mind that the Act alluded to warranted the con-
struction, that these Reverend Prelates were entitled
to their claim of precedency. If possible, indeed, a
favourable interpretation ought to be given to the
clause in question, for, since the Union, the Peers of
Ireland ought to be paid every distinction which was
their due, and with open arms we ought to allow
them every fair claim to precedency.
Lord ELLENBO ROUGH begged not to be un-
derstood as stating any sentiment personally against
the claims of these two Reverend Prelates. But he
must contend for a certain principle which ought to
guide all their Lordships' decisions upon questions
of this nature. They ought to put aside every con-
sideration of favour and respect, and make their
determination according to the true sense and import
of' the clause which had been referred to on this oc-

casion. According to the obvious meaning of the
voids, he was induced to think that the precedency
now claimed was not entertained at the time of fram-
ing the Act •
The LORD CHANCELLOR concurred in the.
senirments delivered by the Noble and Learned Lord,
and although lie was far from saving that this pro-
vision of precedency would have been the one he
would have framed, > et looking to the words " rank
and degree," he was inclined to believe that the pre-
cedency among Bishops themselves was not contem-
plated In the enactment.
Lord WALSLNGHAM proposed the motion,
which was negatived without a division. •
BANBURY PEERAGE.
Lord ERSKINE proposed to defer his motion re-
specting the Banbury Peerage, till Thursday next.
Lord ELLE.NBOROUGH stated the inconve-
nience of his being present that day on account of the
Sittings after Term.
Lord E RSKINE idtivnated hispast anxiety to have
some decision upon this subject, and if the Noble
and Learned Lord thought proper he would even
then proceed. He accordingly proceeded to state the
evidence as it ratted to the legitimacy of the claim-
ant, and concluded by moving several resolutions
of the facts which appeared upon their Lordships'
Journals, stating that the claimant was descended
from William, the first Earl of Banbury, whose son
sat in • that House as Earl of Banbury, both before
and after any question had been raised against his le-
hitimacy— tl.at the Committee of Privileges, in 1661,
ad assented to his claim ; and that a Bill was in-
troduced, but not prosecuted, to declare him illegi-
timate, &c.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said, the facts recited
'acre brought f,rward like Foinuient objects upon
canvas ; but there were other facts most maierial for
their judgment, if they were to decide at all. Upon
a view of all the evidence,. his deci4td opinion was,
that the present claimant was the spurious offspring
of Lord Vane and Lady Banbury.
The LORD CHANCELLOR observed, there
d .43 change in his opinion upon this subject.

wished to put this question for their determination,
he should, unless some arguments should be used to
the contrary, express his vote agreeably to the decla-
ration he had made. He was one who always re-
viewed his own sentences as Judge, and always felt
anxious after he had made them ; but in reviewing
the opinion hr had tormed on this claim, he was sa-
tilted the claimant had no right to the title,
Lord ERSKINE then proposed, that he would
bring this subject bc-fore their Lordships next Thurs-
day, for their final decision ; which proposition was
agreed to, and the Ca minittee adjourned.

DISSENTERS.

Earl STANHOPE rose, f it the purpose of firing
the day for the second reading of a 1311, which re-
,pected the miist abominable persectu ion against men
fir their religious opinions. The Noble Earl then
moved, that the Lot ds be summoned for Friday, the
3d of July, when he would move the second reading
of the Dissenters' Bill.

-SHORT-HAND WRITERv.

Earl STANHOPE wished to call the notice of the
House to what he conceived a right of petition. It
was certainly provided that when petitionets appear-. 1
ed before their Lordships and witnesses before their
Committees, no charge by the clerks, or others, was
authorised to be imposed upon those persons, but he
held in his hand a paper containing a charge }or
short-hand writing before a Committee of that
House, and he moved that this was a breach of
their privileges, and that the pets ,n offending should
be brought before their Lordships to answer for his
conduct.

Lord WALSINGHAM said, it was usual for
.the parties to engage a sh,rt-hand writer, xthich ex-
pedited the business before the Committee, but it
was optional, there was nothing compulsory: How-
ever, if the party referred to did not consent, the
short-hand writer must be compensated from another
quarter.
Lord KENYON observed, that the Noble Earl
himself had been attending the Committee alluded
to (In the Nevin Enclosute Bdl), and yet he liCVel
noticed the impropriety of the short-hand writer's
presence.
- Lord REDESDALE contended that the short-
hand writer was entitled to compensation, and all
that he could suggest was, that it the parties refused,
there was no means of using compulsion. They
were not bound to pay the expense. But it appear-
ed strange to him how the Noble Earl could form in
his imagination that this was a breach of privilege.
—The parties for whom the Noble Earl seemed in-
terested, had, in respect to the Bill, shewn an ex:
traordinary conduct, as they endeAvoured to support
robbery, because it had been practised for a series
of years.
Earl STANHOPE replied, he was anxious fat
justice, but ate did not know what the proceeding,
on the Bill had to ch) with the. present ertestion.—
He was, however, satisfied to hear the Noble and
Learned Lord say they were not bound to pay this
bill. But if the short-hand writer dared to use, here
after, any means of compulsion, he would bring him
before that House to answer the charge he should
make against him.
Adjourned till to-morrow (this day).

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Newfoundland Spirits &II went through a Commiuce.
The report was ordered to be receive:l to-morrow.

The Loan Bill was read a thitd time and pa,sed.
The Report of Committee o. Ways and Means was brought
up, and the resolutons were agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. Rosa, it was resolved, that the House
should tuAnorrow resolve into a Commitee on the Free Port
Act.

Leave was given, on the motion 'of Mr. Rose, to bring in a
Bill to obtaiii returns relative to the expense and maintenance of
the peer in England.

The report of West Tndia Licenses Bill was brought up, and
the Bill was ordered to be read a third iime to-morrow,

The Reports of the Copper Duty Bill, and the Southern Whale
Fishery Dill, were likewise brought up, agreed to, and the Bill
ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.

The Bahama Wands Trade Bill was read a thild time and
passed.
On the motion of the CUANCLI LOR of the EXCHEQUER, tho
additional Postage Bill went through a Committee.—Report to.
morrow.

The Report of the Sugar Distillery Bill was brought up, the
resolutions were agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a thud
time to morrow.

The Linen Bounty Bill went through a Committee. Report
to-morrow.

Sir WM. SCOTT gave notice of his Intention to-morrow, to
move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better regulation of
Prize Courts. lie intimated, however, that he should not
press this Bill through the present Session.
The Excise Duty Bill went through a Committee. Report
to-morrow.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice, that in the
Committee of Ways and Means to-morrow, he should move an
additional duty on Stone-ware Bottles, which were many tac•
tured to a considerable extent, to the injury of the Glass trade.
A person from the Transport •fftce presented an account of the
*umber of French officers who have broken their parole, been
retaken, and effected their escape, during the last throe years.

The House went into Cola nittee on the Excise B.lL—Report
to morrow.

Mr. VA:(SITTAaT Said. he should propose a duty OD Stone-
ware, in the Consin,rtee of Ways and Means.____

On the question that the Ass. sseri Taxes Bill be committed,
Mr. Wk.sTERN objected to the , tax on horses employed in '
husbandry, and to the principle of such taxation. It was as
departure from the true object of taxation,—a fine on luxury ;
and went to tax the implements of trade. They might as well'
tax the pbugh.
bjr IA A AK WOOD supported the Bill.
It was then committed, and the Report ordered to be re-
ceived t Et-morrow.
The Irish Stamps Bill went through a Committee, and the
Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.
The Unlawful Oaths Bill, and the Riots Bill, were read a
third time, and pasted.
The House went into Committee on the Irish Population Bilti
Mr. W. Voce said, he approved of the principle of the BM,
though he differed from the Right Honourable l'aronet (Sir
John Newpsrtj in the method of carrying it into practice.
He thought tffe mode proposed too expensive, and wouli
recom-
me , that instead of erecting new officers, the census should be
ma by constables, by baronies in the counties, and by parishes
in the towns.

Sir J. NIWPC,IIT objected to the returns being made by persons
enitiloyed in collecting the taxes : the common people would
take alarm, imagining some new taxee to be imposed, and would
be anxious to conceal their numbers.

After 'a few words froth General M.sTncw, Mr. Rost, and
Mr. POLL, in support of Mr. Pole's Amendment, it was agreed
to. The Report was ordered to bet eceivad to-murrow, and the
Bill as amended to be printed.
sir NI ARK Woon moved for an Account of the French Pri-
soners of War, distinguishing sailors as far ai possible. Ordered.
LOCAL TOKENS.

The CHANCELLOR of the Exc arouse moved the Order of
the Day for the second reading of Chit making this mo •
lion, he beggedleave to state that he should move an amend-
ment in the Comntittee the object of which would be to make
ttAstatal ro issue new Tdriele. and to suffer those Tokens which

ibould ego propose to omit that part of the Act which referred to
copper Tokens.
•1 he Bill having been then read,lt was ordered to be corn•
mjttcd to-rnorrow.
IMPRESSMENT 07 AMERICAN SEAMEN.

Mr. ROBIN tots could not refrain, (though in the absence of an
Hon. Baronet, Sir F. Burdett,) from saying a few words on the
subject to which be had lately called the attention of the House.
It appeared that a seaman (named John Williamson,) had been
impressed, and ;sent on board the Enterprize—that application
had bet n made for his release, and that, consequently, the no.
cessary inquiries' had been made, before the Honourable Baronet
mentioned the circumstance to the House. The man, Indeed,
bad said he was an Ametican who had been discharged from the
Namur': but be was recognised by one of tile gang, as a deserter
Isom that ship. The Hon. Member stated, that in all canes the
utmost attention was paid to the representations of the American
Consul on this subject of impressment, by our Board of Ad-
miralty.
Mr. CROR►R said, he was in the lobby when the Hon. Bart.
made his statement the other night, or he would have given au
immediate answer.