Star.
London, England, 1818-06-09 00:00:00

given
that the framers of it were too ignorant to-specify
their exceptions.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the fra-
mers of the Alien Bill, against the reproach of the
Learned Gentleman ; they had not known of the
Scotch Act ; but the same reproach might have been
made against many others, for it was evident from
all naturalization Acts, passed for a number of years.
that the whole British Parliament was ignorant of
the Scottish Law, as appeared from the clauses al-
ways introduced into every naturalization Bill. Ac-
cording to an Irish Act of Parliament, foreigners
purchasing their freedom in Dublin and other Cor-
porations, might become denizens of that country.
Mr. WILLIAM SMITH said, when this measure
came from the Lords it met with his reprobation ;
but as the measure now stood, and as it was to be
continued only for nine months, and not to have a
retrospective effect, he would not object to it.
Mr. W. WYNNE said, that as the Bill had come
amended from the Lords, it was a measure of con-
fiscation, instead of security ; but, in its present
shape, he had no objection whatever to it. lie quoted
several cases of persons having been naturalized in a
very easy manner, and he hoped next Session the
House would take the whole of the subject into con-
sideration.
Sir WILLIAM BURROUGIIS considered the
clause as a most oppressive measure—the present
proposition as most expedient. He strongly recom-
mended to his Honourable and Learned Friend (Sir
James Mackintosh) not to persevere in his amend-
ment of introducing the names of the Corporate
Bodies which the Bill was calculated to affect, as that
would lead to the identical mischiefs which it was the
object of the Bill to avert.
Mr. BROUGHAM wished to suggest an observa-
tion to the Noble Lord. He understood the measure
was only prospective ; in order that it might be so
in the most effectual manner, he thought it would
be necessary to state in the Bill, that instead of the
words, " from and after the passing of the Act,"
there should be named a certain day, beyond which
the Act was to operate ; and thus it might serve as a
warning to persons in future ; for befors men heard
of the Act, they might have made purchases of stock
and of land ; and therefore the Act would be retro:
spective, so far as regarded them. If this was done,
he should have no objection to suspend the Standing
Order on the present occasion, in order that the whole
Bill might be passed through all its stages in one day.
General MITCHELL said, he had been in the
city not two hours ago, and there he saw that orders
had been given for the purchase of stock in the Bank
of Scotland.

Leave was then given, and the Bill was brought
up by Lord CASTLEREAGH, and read a first time.
Lord CASTLEREAGH, in answer to the sugges-
tion of Mr. Brougham, said, that the object which
Parliament had in view must be defeated, if the Bill
did not include persons who were purchasing at the
very moment when Parliament was legislating on
this measure. The clause fl-om the Lords was a

complete notice to all persons purchasing stock, that
th2y were purchasing it at their peril. Would the
Learned Gentleman, then, open the door to all those
individuals whu were taking advantage of an old
Scotch Act of Parliament, to defeat the objects of
Government ? and he hoped the Learned Gentleman
would not think that there was any fair ground for
his suggestion.
Mr. BROUGHAM was not convinced by the ar-
guments of the Noble Lord. The notice of the Noble
Lord on Saturday was nothing, and could not take
away men's rights to complain. This was completely
a retrospective legislation, and was most unjust ;
equally unjust was it to say, that any amendments
introduced by another House, could be a sufficient
notice to any set of people. Suppose a Foreigner
should purchase Stock in Scotland on Wednesday
rest, he did so in utter ignorance of the Act which
was to be passed that night, and in a belief that the
House rejected the retrospective clause ; and if a
larded estate was purchased at the same time, it
would be forfeited. No mischief was to be appre-
hended from dangerous persons, for they had already
made their purchases, and would make no more. •
Mr. CANNING agreed that persons might make
such purchases as the Learned Gentleman stated ;
nor was a notice of a law binding on any person.
But it was evident that the notice. must have operated
on any man of common sense, and it was impossible
for persons making purchases to suppose that any
principle of good faith was to be extended to them.
It was necessary, as soon as possible, to put an end
to this absurd state of the law; and it was no argu-
ment, to say that private rights might be violated by
the present measure. The same argument had been
used when it was proposed to abolish. the slave trade;
but to that it was answered—" let those who conceive
themselves wronged come and state their cases, and
ask for compensation." Now he would propose that
a similar course should be pursued in the present case.
Lord FOLKESTONE-said, the conduct of Minis-
ters exhibited or. this occasion the same inconsistency
which had marked it throe bout the whole of the
last and present Sessions. 'They now said it was ne-
cessary to the security of the country thae this mea-
sure should pass in an unprecedented manner. One
of them lately argued, in a very elaborate manner,
that it was necessary it should have a retrospective
effect. How could the House and the country con-
fide in those who argued, three days ago, that'it was
r.ecessary for the measure to have a retrospective ef-
fect, when they saw them come down now and pro-
pose it without that which was said to be essential to it?
General THORNTON, amidst loud cries of " Ques-
tion," said, he hoped if purchases of Bank of Scotland
Stock gave foreigners a right to sit in that House,
that Mlaisters would make the measure so far retro-
spective as to deprive them of that right.
The Bill was then read a second time, committed,
the Report received and taken into consideration, and
the Bill read a third time and passed.
The Petition from the Stockholders of the Bank of Scotland,
prcs,:ntrd on Friday tau, was ordered to be printed. Adjourned.

, . .
eviction. Here the Hoitoorable 1144,earstedGenak
man quoted several passiOirirmasbn 'Act 'Weft eiroa
Anne, proving that persons sq.naturalized were sub-
ject to the same diiigt‘eas 1 igland. He trusted
that e Noble Lordriourd - t vere in his ef-
foits o eraLao•Act, at least, that he would
R~dls'lnon or name to identify
his allusions, since the only reason that could be
riven for such a character of the Bill, would be,
~.