Star.
London, England, 1819-02-20 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, for thf sake
of obtaining a fuller attendance to form Committees, moved in
substance as follows ;—" Tbat the names of the Timbers found
absent on Monday, without leave. be reported to the House on
Tuesday ; that those absent on Tuesday be reported on Friday ;
and that all those absent on Friday, be taken itnethe custody of
the Serjeant at Arms."—Ordered.
On the Motion of the Czaticxxxoft of theoExcitentma, the
House, at its rising, was to be adjourned till Monday next.
Dr. Baukhead was coifed to the Bar, and being sworn, was I
examined by the SPIAIMZ, as to the indisposition of Sir Jon'
Fannimt, Bart. who being a member of the Evesham Commit-
tee, was excused front attending, on the.physician's declaration'
of hi. inability.
A new Writ was moved for Blachingley, in the room of
Gnomon Taxman, F.sq. who, since his 11111CtiQD, bad accepted
the Chiltern Hundreds.

A new Writ was moved for Rye, In the room e Mr. As-
.
'survivor, who having been returned for two places, had made
good his election for St. Cenitain's.—Ordered.
A new Writ was moved for Cashel, in the room of R. Pittner-
rarsom, Esq. who, since his Election, had accepted the office of
Escheator of Muuster.
Mr. Johnson presented an Account of the Receipts and Dis-
bursements of the London Dock Company, from the otb of
November, 1817, to the 10th of November, 1818. Also a
Report relative to the Progress of the Works.
Mr. BENNET moved for a List of the Number of Convicts
that hail been transported to Botany Bay Mice the conuneescH
meat of the Enablishment ; and an Account of the &pease,
Ste. &c. for the same.—Ordered.

The Order of the Day for going into a Committee of Supply,
and that for a Committee of Ways end Means, were postponed
till Monday.
Mr. BENNET bronght np the Report of the Chimney.
sweeping Regulation Bill, and moved that it be read a thud
time on Monday next, which was agreed to.
Mr, HARE presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of
Bandon, in the County of Cork, praying that no farther privi-
leges be granted to the Roman Catbolics.—.lt was received,
read, and ordered to lie en the Table,
Mr. CANNING postponed the Motion for Thanks to the'
Marquis of Hastings. announced for Tuesday next, to Tuesday
sennight.
Mr. Lai appeared at the Bar, and presentel the names of the'
-Gentlemen who had been ballotted for to try the merits of the
contested election for the Town of Chester, : Hon. T. Ce-
cil, lion. W, Ellis, R. G. Wilmot, Fag. 4. P. Symonds, Esq.
Hon. Ed. Finch, C. Buxton, Esq. O. Smith, Esq. Sir U. De
Burgh, Ilon.T. Knox C. harton, Eiq, Lord A. Chichester
J. Allen, iisq. Lord Clive, G. Cartwright, Psi. mid J. Cal:
craft, Esq.
the SPEAKER intimated, that the parties who bad pal-

greed aphis( the Return for -Great Grfnutby, had not coin*,
ted•their Recognisance* to the time glowed bt the Houte.—The
order for taking the merits of the Petition Into farther conside-
ration, was of course discharged.
The SPEAKER also intimated, that the parties who had pe-
ttloned against the Return for. Rye, had neglected to complete
their Recognizances.—The order was discharged. •
The SPEAKER also gave a similar intimation respecting the
parties who had petitioned against the Return for Hull.—This
order was also chseharged.

•INsoIiVENT DEBTORS
Mr. DAVIS moved for leave to present a Petition
from a numerous class of Merchants, Traders, and
Manufacturers, of Bristol, praying against any re
newal of the Insolvent Bill. The Honourable Member
observed, that the sentiments of the Petitioners ex-
actly corresponded with those avowed some nights
ago by an Hon. Member (AldermanWaithman), who
tipresented the City of London.
Mr. PROTHEROE could not allow a Peeition of
the nature now described to be presented, without of-
fering some observations on the subject. The Bill
now condemned by the Petitioners had given univer-
sal alarm ; and all descriptions, from the highest
classes of society to the lowest shopkeepers, had suf-
fered from its baneful operation. It had excited and
encouraged a spirit of adventure detrimental to trade
aid commerce. When individualsfound themselves
unfortunate, they resolved to make another plunge,
determined, should they still be attended with mis-
fortune, to take as the last alternative,, the benefit of
the Insolvent Act. He lamented the loss of Sir Sa-
muel Itomilly, who had promised to offer Parlia-
ment some amelioration of the law. The Honourable,
Member thought it would be better to agree to'a total
abolition of every Act relative to debtor and creditor
than allow the renewal dumb a Bill. •

Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN, by the repetition of
his former arguments, argued strenuously against
any renewal of the Bill. It had been highly injurious
to the whole country, and therefore ought not on any
account to be renewed. The Honourable Alderman
announced his intention of moving for a list of the
names of all persons who had been imprisoned for
debt during the last twenty years, and who had taken
the benefit of the Act of Insolvency, in order to ascer-
tain whether or not the evil complained of had ;n-
-creased or diminished since the passing of the Bill.
Mr. Alderman WOOD complained of the imper-
fections of the Bill as it now stood, as well as con-
demned its general principles. Lately a debtor, after
taking the -benefit of the Act, had been•left £3OOO.
His debts had amounted to £1200; and the creditors,
who had been offered 7s. in the pound, hearing of
the good fortune of the debtor, thought they had a
right to M. in the pound, but at last found that they
had no power to draw the money from the Bank. It
it were in contemplation to renew it, the Honourable
Alderman hoped that a clause .*remedy this griev-
ance would not be omitted.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE admitted, that no law which
had been formed for a temporary relief or experi-
ment, could be said to be perfect. But he was fully
persuaded that the principle was good. It was acknow-
ledged, when originally introduced into Parliament,
as dre most complete system which had prior to that
period been suggested. Lord Redesdale, a profound
Lawyer, and who had formerly been at the head of
the Law Department for Ireland, (Lord Chancellor,)
had evinced much anxious solicitude to render the
measure as perfect as the time would allow. Ilis
Lordship deserved much praise for his exertions, and
the more the system was sifted, it 0/..aild be fortnd
more and more salutary. Whatever clamour Gentle•
men excited against the Bill, he would maintain that
the principle was founded in justice and humanity.
Nobody pretended to say that it was perfect ; but if
it were capable of amendments, if, in fact, it were
good for the community at large, why abandon it?
He wished he saw the Attorney-General in his place,
that he might recommend a renewal of it with all
the amendments deernad requisite. An Honourable
Alderman (Ntsithman,) who sat behind him, had
complained of the facility it gave to those who wanted
credit. But this was not the case, but quite the re-
verse. If, however, traders chose to adventure, rather
than be taught by dear-b Ought experience, the fault
was neither in the spirit nor in the principle of the
Bill. The llonourable and Learned Member thought
it his duty to resist all idle clamour, and declared
himself from every principle of policy and fair deal-
ing between debtor and creditor, friendly to the
measure.

Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN wished to correct a
misrepiesentaion of the Honour&le Member. What
he said and meant was, that the Bill, with its nume-
rous faults and detrimental operations, had created a
spirit of carelessness on the part of the debtor. It
had nearly destroyed the whole morality of trade !I
Many Gentlemen of that House might appear indiffe-
rent to the subject; but from the experience of be-
tween 20 and SO years in trade, he thought it incum-
bent on him to take the part which he. had done, in
order to protect his own property and that of his
constituents. If.greater facility of Credit, which the
present Bill, in the opinion of many, was instrumen-
tal in producing, unhinged the confidence between.
man and man—if the property sacrificed amounted
to between.eight and nine millions, without produc-1
ing one farthing in the pound, of dividend's, be would
wish to ask the Honourable and Learned Gentleman
(Mr. Abercrombie,t what advantage the public had
gained by the operations of the Bill? The-question
was certainly trot now in a proper shape before the
House for discussion, and, therefore, he was not
bound to go farther. It was not a question adapted
to the taste of some Gentlemen; but he was glad he
spoke in the presence of many highly respectable
Gentlemen of the City of London, who knowing the
principle of loss and gain, could fully appreciate the
truth of what he advanced. Some of them, now
conspicuous in the commercial world, had at the
commencement of their career, like many of their
predecessors, been clerks, and advanced in the com-
mon gradations. Such men well knew the truth of
his allegations, and how detrimental the Bill had
been to the laudable industry of the Citizens of Lon-
don. No amendment could render the Bill palatable.
The system was bad altogether, and therefore it
should have his warmest opposition.
Mr. GORDON wished for the indulgence of the
House while he advanced something in favour of the
unfortunate debtor. With all the bitter invectives
which bad been dealt out against this description of
srlen,:he should think it his duty to support the mea-
sure whenever it came before the House. The pres-
sure of the times had rendered such a Bill requisite
Lad eidutary, and if the united wisdom of r arliaincat

had sanctioned it, all the clamours which were inchts.
triously excited against it would not avail. It %rasa
Bill of relief from the implacable avarice and u:l,ti
lenting rapacity of somrcreditors, who would rivt,t
be conteuNd but by the total min of their infest.%
nate victim. He approved, as much as any mar, of
the effo*ts of honest industry ; but if a person, from
the spirit of adventure and laud:ll3le ambition, he,
came unfortunate, s si it fair that he should be stijp.,
mathed and driven as an outcast from society? jia
Bill afforded that cominendible relief which w:ft
some Gentlemen constituted tins topic of reproid.
The Worthy Alderman, (Waithrnan,) in order tor,*
der the measure unpopular, repeated his favonile
remark, that as beLween eight and nine millions ,#
property had been sacrificed by the operations nf
Bill, without producing one farthing of dividend lc. 41,3
pound, what benefit had the public derived from iti
With all due deference to the worthy Aldernlzr,,
ideas of the morality of trade, he (Mr. Gorden) fin,
convinced that the public had derived great zo,,i
from its operations, even admitting the truth of
worthy Alderman's calculation. It had been f',t
means of relieving many worthy, althoUgh unfcftl.
nate individuals, and restored them to society. Pi
he would ask the Hon. Alderman, if he believedtia;
I more of the property alluded to would lave been re,
covered, had the present Bill never been paced?....
The grand morality of trade, according to the Hcr„
Member's doctrine, was ready money-and no cro.S.,
Mr. Gordon, although he found it incumbent uNa
him to say thus much in favour of the unfortunes
debtor, was by no means frieftly to the dishoc...
adventurer.

The Petition was then brought up n.r.tl read, azi
ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN then moved fo:
Names of all those who had been imprisoned, a:4
afterwards taken the benefit of an Imolvent Act, frrm
the 31st December, 1797, to the 31st of Deco,:ar,
ISIS. The worthy Alderman, howerer,
motion, with an intention to bring it 16mA...a
on some future day.