Star.
London, England, 1818-02-04 00:00:00

of the country, in order to square them with each
other, and to shew a hat they were likely to be here-
after,_ and they hid the merit of having presented
the House with a very clear view of this most can-
rplicated of all subjects. They were still proceeding
in their labours, and would have accomplished more
'than they had done, but for the rising of the House.
IHaving briefly stated what had been done by the
Committee, it was now for him to speak of what
had been done by Government in consequence of
the reports of that Committee. On the present, oc-
casion it was not his intention to go into any minute'
details, but should the Committee be rd-appointed,
it would be the duty of Government to state to them
what had been done pursuant to their recommen-
dation, and why some things had not been done.—
He would say more, that when they came before the
House he was confident it would be seen that Minis-
ters had been anxious to give early effect to the re-
ports of the Committee. The grounds on which, in
certain special cases, they had not acted on them
would be laid before the Committee, who would
then have an opportunity of reconsidering the cases
referred to. At the time he moved for the first for •
motion of this Committee, he had stated that he was
not sanguine enough to expect it could terminate its
labour in one year. He was of opinion they might
be required for a second, and possibly for a third.—
After a war of such magnitude and extended dura-
tion, as that we have just closed, he had thought it
likely that -so much time might be required to sa-
tisfy the House what was the exent of the revenue
and expenditure to be calculated upon in a time of
'peace, and what the measures necessary to bi
adopted, not only to keep from running back, but
to secure the means for effecting an important reduc-
Aims of the national debt. When he had spoken thus
411 Honourable Gentleman (the Member for Bram-
' her) had objected to the protracted inquiry, which
the language he had referred to seemed to that Ho-
nourable Gentlemen to announce. He objected to
the delay which he expected would follow from the
appointment of a Committee, whose labours might
not close for three years, as if he had apprehended
that nothing would be done iii the mean tame. He
(thought it had been shewn by the Reports of the
Committee, and by the measures of the Government,
that this fear was not well founded, but he was
=us that it should be seen what further could be
within the period of which he had spoken. It
would be trespassing on the time of the House to go
into the same course of statements on the present oc-
casion which he had thought necessary last year, when
moving for the appointment of this Committee. The
subject which it had been appointed to investigate,
having by its labours been brought within a nar-
rower compass than it had been found in before, the,
House might now expect its attention to be directed
to the details rather than to the outline. On the im-
proved state of Ireland he spoke with much satisfac-
tion. The manlier in which that country had passed
,thongh the late season of calamity, without any pro-
vision by law for the relief of the poor, must excite
equal pleasure and surprise. The spirit of charity
and benevolence displayed on the part of the higher
orders, had drawn the bonds of social attachment
closet than ever they had before been drawn in that
country. He hoped at an early day the attention of
the House would be directed to the increased or di-
minished expenditure of the last year, when it might
be discussed, with the advantage not only of the
former Reports of the Committee, but with that
a Supplementary Report. He concluded by moving
the re-appointment of the Committee of last year,
to inquire into the expenditure and income of the
country for the years ending January 5, 1817, and
January .5, 1818, and so far as the same can be made
out, to make an estimate of the income and expen-
diture of the country for the year ending January 5,
1819, and also to point out what further reductions
can be made without detriment to the public interest.
While the fist of the Members of the Committee
was being read over,
Mr. BANKES remarked, that one Right Honour-
able Gentleman (Mr. Tierney) had not named
on the Committee last year (on account of ill health),
who was capable of affording the most important
services where matters of Finance were under con-
sideration. As the former cause for his absence no
longer existed, he hoped to see that Right Honour-
able Gentleman in the Committee this year.
Mr. TIERNEY said, if on any particular occa-
sion he could afford the Committee any information,
he should be happy to give them every assistance in
his power ; but though he was much recovered from
his late indisposition, he feared if he gave his atten-
dance to the Committee in the morning, he should
be unequal to the duty of the evening, and should
therefore feel obliged if the House would excuse
him. lie wished it to be understood, that on no
other account did he wish to decline being on the
Committee.
Lord CASTLEREAGH reminded the House that
the constitution of the Committee was not such as to
prevent any Member being calle.l to assist its de-
liberations. Much benefit had been derived from
the course pursued in the last Session, that of in-
viting Members in official situations to give such in-
formation as it might be in their power to afford,
and as this had been found the most convenient way
of conducting the inquiry, he had no doubt that the
Committee, when re-appointed, would be glad to
derive assistance from Gentlemen who were not Mem-
bers of the same Committee.
Mr. BANKES thought the call upon a public
officer different from that of a private Member of
:the House. The former might be called upon to
'attend this Committee, but he hardly knew how a
"-person holding no office, and not being one of its
Members, could be present at its sitting but as an
idle person. He therefore could wish, that the name
of the Right Honourable Gentleman should be add-
ed to the Committee, or that the Committee should
have a power of increasing its members from time
to time. Such a power he thought might be of great
utility, as it would enable them to add to their num-
ber Members who would be capable of rendering im-
portant services.
The SPEAKER inquired if the Right Honourable
Gentleman wished to press his suggestion on the
House by a motion ?
Mr. BANKES declined doing so, and the question
as originally proposed was put and agreed to, and
the Committee re-appointed.
DROPPED ORDZIRS.
Mr. GRENFtLL was about to bring forward

the Bank-notes now in'circula-

tion, when
The SPEAKER reminded the House that he had
a little time before suggested the expediency uf
posing of the dropped Orders. He had collected
that it was the duty of the House to do so. It might
be a question whether any of them should be pro-
ceeded with that evening ; but he considered it to be
his duty to read over the list.
Mr. C. W. WYNNE wished to know if a Member
who had a question which stood for the day, had
the right of priority if he chose to assert it. If such
Member chose to waive his right, the dropped Or-
der might be taken up ; but the right was with him
*hose motion stood for the day, and he might claim
priority over all the dropped Orders.
The SPEAKER hid very little doubt of the cor-
rectness of the Honourable Gentleman who had just
addressed him, and would not rely upon any opi-
nion of his own in opposition to him. He only
wished to collect what the House thought would be
mast for its own convenience. Perhaps in the first
instance he ought to call an the Honourable Gentle-
man whose motion stood next for this day, to say
what course he was disposed to take.
Mr. GRENFELL wished to do nothing in oppo-
sition to the House, but in the present instance it
was only a question of priority, and he was ready
to give way till the dropped Orders had been dis-
posed of, or to proceed immediately to offer the
few observations with which, he intended to preface
his motion.
Mr. PHILLIPS wished to know when the Noble
Lord opposite would nano the time for moving to
refer the Papers concerning the internal state of the
Country to a Committee.
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, he should fix the
day before the House adjourned.
DANN RESTRICTION.

The House postponing the dropped Orders,
Mr. GRENFELL ' brought forward his motion.
He reminded the House of the intimation which they
had recently received from the- Chancellor of the
Exchequer on the subject of the Bank Restriction
Act. is intimation had not surprised him. lie
had never deybted but, on some grounds or other,
the continuation of the Bank Restriction Act would
be proposed by the Right Honourable Gentleman in
the course of the present Session. This he had more
than once stated to be his conviction, and he had
constantly expected that some pretext would be laid
bold of by Government to save them from keeping
their promise—that promise which they had so often
made within the last three years. The promises of
Ministers had been accompanied by the solemn as-
surances of the Bank, that they were not only ready
and willing to pay in specie when the Bank Restric-
tion Act should cease to operate ; but that they were
most anxious and impatient for the arrival of the
time when they should be permitted by that House
to resume their cash payments. if such were their
wishes, (and such they had been stated to be by Mr.
Harman), might not the Directors of the Bank come
to that House, appeal to them against Ministers, and
call for the repeal of the Restriction Act? As a
Member of the Corporation, he should most heartily
join in such an application. Let them conic then to
Parliament, and petition to be relieved tom that
situation in which they had been placed in 1797.
However they might have profited by it, they might
plad that it had made them an object of suspicion
to the nation. There was, however, no prospect oi
such an application being made; for stopping pay-
ment for twenty one years, which would have in-
volved any other Company or concern in insolvency
and ruin, had proved to the Bank Company a source
of wealth, power, and prosperity. Still, however,
they did not consider the Act under which this was
done was passed to benefit them. They accused
Government of having passed it for other purposes
connected with their own interests. This language
be had heard from several, and, in particular, from
lone friend of his who was in France, taking a part,
as he believed, in those financial operations, which
were to make it necessary to continue the Bank Re-
striction Act in force. From others of the Bank Cor-
poration, he had heard it said over and over again,
that the restriction was not intended for their advan-
tage, but proposed to Parliament merely because it
suited the convenience of Ministers. It would be
curious, and not useless, though he would not do it
now, to trace the different grounds, and the various
arguments, by which this measure had been defended
on the several occasions of its re-enactment. Suffice
it to say, the measure had now been enacted eight
times. He would take the liberty to express a hope,
that before the Chancellor of the Exchequer again
proposed its renewal, he would at least subject thel
affairs of the Bank to an inquiry similar to that of
1797. He slightly touched on the arguments for-
merly urged in support of the measure, none of which
were, in his opinion, so futile, so flimsy, (he had al-
most said, so insulting,) to the understanding of the
House, as those which had been addressed to it for
the same purpose on the present occasion. Were
they now to be told, that because France, Austria,
and to these he had heard Prussia added, wanted
loans, and because certain great houses, Rosschild's
and others in this capital, were desirous of assisting
them, that, to enable them to do this, the evil of
which England had so long complained during the
war was to be continued in a time. of peace? Did
not the Chancellor of the Exchequer know that the
renewal of the Bank Restriction Act would give in-
creased facility to the transactions of which he had
just spoken ? He could do nothing that would favour
them more ; and he (Mr. Grenfell) would take upon
himself to say, that if the Bank were to resume its
[payments in cash, not a shilling of British capital
would go out of this country to furnish the loans now
about to be raised. Why ,then, under these circum-
stances, he would contend, that the measure about to
be brought forward went in fact to give a bounty on
the transactions in question. He did not mean to
say that the trade in money ought not to be open,
like any other trade; nor did he contend that British
subjects ought to be prohibited from placing their
money, if they were disposed to do so, in foreign
funds : he would have the money trade perfectly
free. But could it be maintained that it was so while
the Bank Restriction Act was continued in force?—
He maintained that it must not; and if of two things
he could only have one—if he must decide between
cash payments and foreign loans—he would say he
preferred the former, and was content to do without
the leter. lie would oppose foreign loans so long

as the Bant delayed the rewrap
In the arguments used in oppe
support of the Bank Restrictic
mistaken for the cause. So loi
paper currency not convertible
precious metals, so long woul
bring the exchanges against it,
argued at some length on the
which he complained, and
promptly seeking the remedy,
sooner we returned to a metal!
would it be for the country, as
slat state of things continue
would it be to return last.
which he took of the subject.
he was in error, with all the gr
tinguished writers who had gin
from the time of Mr. Locke-
Smith, and down to the late E
concluded by moving for an
weekly aMoupt of Bank Note!
in circulation, from the Ist of
Sd of February, 1818, distingi
Bank Notes ur.der the value
amoant of the whole.
The CHANCELLOR of thi
AI when the measure which
came before the House, there
portunities for going into the !
cline entering at large into it
ato opposition to the present in
The Motion was then wee
solutions moved by Mr. Gaza
a great variety of Papers an
with the subject.
INTIRNAL STATR OP
Lord CASTLEREAGH bi
hag, certain papers, containir
ipg the Internal State of the
were ordered to remain in th
of the House ; and the Noble
RR Thursday he would move I
referred to a Committee.
PROPERTY TAX
Mr. BROUGHAM wished
cellor of the Exchequer could
respecting the destruction of
Prcperty Tax?
The CHANCELLOR of t 1
a very considerable time ago
been sent round, directing chi
sets of papers connected wit}
He had reason to believe till
diately complied with.
Mr. BROUGHAM wished
papers so destroyed had not
The CHANCELLOR of the
stood all the copies to have
as the originals.

MIL 1101

Mr. W. SMITH, in bring
of which he had given notice
ject to lay some foundation I
the present course of proceed
mations. He should not go
at the present moment ; he
with moving for all account
Crown Office by Mr. Hone,
they were demanded. and the
applied. He merely did this
authentic information oflthe
correct. The case of Mr. Ho
sion than the cause of his ma
had had the subject in his mi
and he took great blame to
brought it forward before ; fi
might have been.the means c
lately occurred in the case
person he admired, in comm
fortitude, the sagacity, and s
played throughout the trials.
had several interviews with b
possessed of the manners of
mated by a very proper spirit
For his own parr, he (Mr. Sul
of the Parodies, and he thoug
worthy part of Mr. Hone's
stopped the circulation of the
did not think them fit subje
upon in a Court of Justice
such condemnatiOn as the)
House, would do more to
than the verdict of aJu
even had a.e been given
lie (Mr. Smith) did not nos
plain of any one; Mr. Hone
the warmest terms, of the u
attention, with which he h
Attorney-General, who had
part of a Gentleman. Mr
with every attention and civi
Nothing had been refused to
complain of but the law. 1
Ito charge against the Atto
any one else. When he con
manded at the Crown Offic
law. This was the sole core
be did not deny that the Jun
plied for copies, had, in refit
according to the law. He n

" That 1-here should be laid heft
Sums received in the Crown Office
copies at inforinatiois filed against
with the authority on which the a
the use to which the Mlle had bee

The ATTORNEY-(:EN}
it was necessary for him to
the present motion. He v
mitted that Mr. Hone had 1
spect as any other defendant
If the Honourable Gentlem:
information with a view to a
spect, he might have obtain
been more generally framed
ed on the case of Mr. llone.
had been treated precisely
would have been under the
information now called fu
every body, at least every b
might be found on the Jour
demands now made were sui
from 1690. He knew not I.
prior to that date. No al
with respect to them since
in the stamps. Such as t
were, they had been return
year he had name 1, and in

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