Star.
London, England, 1818-04-03 00:00:00

REPORTED NEW PROJECT OF FINANCE.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE rose, and observed
it was in the recollection of their Lordships that he
had, before the recess, given notice of a Motion, on a
subject of the highest importance to the Country,
namely, its General Currency, or Circulating Me-
dium. The notice was given for bringing it on, and
the House ordered to be summoned for the 14th.
Since that period, however, some reports had rather
confidently prevailed, of an intention, on the part of
his Majesty's Government, to propose some plan of
Finance for the consideration of Parliament,, a pro-
minent feature in which would be an Issue of Stock
Debentures. If that were so, it would so totally alter
the whole system of circulation in the country, and
cause such a change in the subject, that he should
hardly find himself called upon to bring forward the
proposition of which he had given notice. Upon that
ground, therefore, and with a view of ascertaining
how tar such a report was founded, upon which
would, in a great measure, depend what he should
have to propose upon the general subject, he wished
to ask the Noble Lord opposite, whether, or how far,
there was any truth in the reports, that his Majesty's
Government had it in contemplation to propose any
material alteration respect to the Paper Circu-
lation of the Country ?
The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, it could
hardly be expected that he should make any remark
upon what might have been the subject of mere re-
port or rumour, as to what may be in the contempla-
tion of his Majesty's Government to propose. All
that he could say on the occasion was, that whatever
might be proposed to be brought forward by his Ma-
jesty's Government on the subject, due notice should
be given of such intention. At the same time he
wished Noble Lords to be cautious in giving credit to
what may come to their ears in that loose and vague
way which had been alluded to.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE replied, that he
must feel the Noble Earl had not given an explicit
answer whether any intention existed on the part of
his Majesty's Government to bring forward such a
plan or not. Neither was what he stated in another
way satisfactory upon the point, as that House would'
be almost excluded from taking any part in the dis-
cussion, especially if it were brought forward late in
the Session. With respect to that which he had him-
self given notice of, he could only say, that unless
some certain information were afforded him on the
question, he should be under the necessity of putting
off the notice, for until then they could not know
the situation, in these respects, in which the country
would be placed. Some distinct information should
be given upon the point. In the former Constitution
of this country, the power of propounding such mea-
sures was vested in the Lords of the Articles. The
Noble Earl had said, that whatever plan was inten-
deckto be laid before Parliament on the subject, due
notice should be given as to the time of bringing it
forward. For the object he (Lord Lauderdale) had
stated, it was desirable to know, whether a plan of
the kind was intended, but without calling upon the
Noble Earl to state, specifically, what the plan was ;
because, if such a measure were intended, the whole
proposa inquiry, as to objects of utility, would va-
nish into air. Therefore he must naturally wish for
information upon that point before he could properly
-move for a Committee of Inquiry as to the subject
he had given notice of.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, that at pre-
sent he felt it only necessary to say, or to repeat, that
whatever plan may be proposed by his Majesty's Go-
vernment upon the subject, due notice should be
given thereof. But he perfectly coincided with the
Noble Earl that such proposition should be brought
forward at a period sufficiently early in the Session
to afford full time for discussion and consideration.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE said, in the way of
esplasation, that with respect to his notice, it would.
in such a state of things, be a matter of considera-
tion with him whether or not he should bring his in-
tended motion forward.

Some private or local Bills were brought up from
the Commons by Sir M. I:01.1(Es, the Hon. Mr. CIiST,
(ieneral TtnoßxloN, and other Members, and were
read the first time.—Adjourned till to-morrow.

Counsel were heard at the Bar.—Tbe Report was received, and
the Bill ordured to be read .i.tbird time to-morrow.
On the :Motion of Mr. SMYTH, a Return of the is:umber
of lisioks prenmted to the University of Cambridge, under the
Copy-right act, specifying in what manner the sante bad been
disposed of, was ordered to be laid before the !louse. -
The Cork Importation Rill, and the Four-wheeled Carriages
Bill, went through Committees, the Reports of which were or-
dered to be received to-morrow.

Mr. W. DOUGLAS preiented a Petition from the Tanner:
of Dumfries against the Double Duties on Leather.—Ordered
to lie on the table.