Star.
London, England, 1803-05-06 00:00:00

lICOTCW SCIIOOLMASTIIII.

The Houle refolved it into a Committee of the whole
Hoof.: on the Motion for Leave to bring in a Bill for making
a ruttier Provifion for Schooltnaften in Scotland.—ale. Win.
DuNDAS in the Chair.

The LORD AovocArs, after Rating the atefulnefs of this
clafs of men to the community at large, laid, that to them was
owing the degree of intelligence, morality, and conftant attend.
anee on public worthip, which fo highly charadterifed the lower
orders of people in Scotland, and to which the people of that
country might attribute the (mall number of crimes and capital
pundit:waits which occurred there. In 1692, the fabrics of
Sehoolniafters had been fixed at too metes Seats, or about sL
Reding ; thcyhad lince been railed to mo meres, or about soL
and he now propofed to mile them to 300, about t6l. and a
fratUon. In very estenfive parilbes, &dimity had arifen as to
what part the fchool mould be fixed in, and from that dream-
Rance there was no (choot at all. He propofod, that, in the
prekat Bill, it amid be provided, that in filch large wan
where the Halton fubkribe 600 awe, they ball have power
to divide (Moots in different parts of the paint. He therefore
moved for leave to bring in a Bill for making further Provibm
for the Parochial Sehoolmalters, and for the better Government '
of Schools in Scotland.—Granted. The Report was ordered to

rented ; on the contrary, he was on the point of '
building a houfe which would colt him cool. and
as to his having a family to fullain, it appeared
that two of his kns had voted at the Elation, lad
that the refi of his children were grown up ; as far
as his pecuniary circumnances were concerned, he
was not fo far an objert of compaffion as had been
reprefented.
Mr. Catcaarr faid, he had been creditably in-
formed, that the fats Rated in the petition of Mr.
Simpfon were true : with raped to his building a
houfe, the fad was, that he had been warned out
of a farm, which he held, of 401. a year, and he
was alto obliged to quit the houfe, and he was
therefore obliged to expend what little property he
had to build a refidence for himfelf and his family.
He thought that this poor man had faired enough
for the purpofe of example, and it was in that view
of the fubjea that he had prefented the petition.
Mr. SHAW LEFRVItt (aid, if the punilliment was
merely of a pecuniary nature, the argument which
had been ufed would be entitled to weight, but he
thought that in cafes of this kind, the punifhment
ought to be corporal.—Punithnsent was to be in.
Hided merely for the purpofe of example—tke man
himfelf ought to be panifhed for the commiffion of
a crime fu very ferious and flagrant. He was fare,
that the Hon. Member who moved for the enlarge-
ment of this man, had been ablated by the belt
motives, but he thought the dignity of the Houk
required that Mr. Simpfon fhould be continued in
prifon.
Mr. Buxom: faid, the Committee, is their pro-
ceedings, had followed the cafe of Shoreham, and
when the perfon appeared &II at the Bar, he was'
much furprifed, and felt at the moment a with not
to urge punifhment. But he thought Returning
Officers, who acted partially and unfairly, ought
to fuller ; and he would have had him at fire coto•
mined to Newgate, rather than to the cufiody of
the Serjeant at Arms; but that the Shoteham cafe
did not go that length.
Mr. Clatesar laid, the man had pleaded igno-
rance, and as the report did not charge him with
corruption, he thought the Houk might incline
to treat him with lenity.
Mr. Buaroa Aid, he was a perfea firanger to
all the parties, but this was a queftion whether die
Houfe Should encourage or difcourage a Retusi.
ing Officer in the conuniffion of the greaten crime
he, in that capacity, could commit ? The only ez-
culfe fuggefted in his behalf was ignorance ; but it
was wonderful, that a Returning Officer mould be
fo very ignorant, as not to know right from wrong.
He had, however, the affillance of a Barrifter, but
would not follow his advice. The punilliment he
had already undergone was nothing; to a poor
perfon the expences certainly might be heavy, and
go to the extent of his whole fortune; but in this
cafe there could be little doubt of his being paid
the money again : and, perhaps, be might alto
receive a remuneration. He was convinced the
only punifhment to deter Returning Officers from
fwerving from their duty, and from aging partially
and unfairly, was perfon.-1 confinement in tome
proper-prifon; and as he thought the Haute was
deeply interefted in fecuring the Freedom of Elec.
Lions. they were bound in fupport of their dignity
and charafter. to treat this offence with all due and
becoming feverity. He therefore moved, 4, That
the perfon at the Bar, for his faid offence, be com-
mitted to Newgate," which, after a few words
from Mr. Serjeant Ben, and Colonel Porter, was
ordered.