Star.
London, England, 1810-05-09 00:00:00

SIR FR ANCIS BURDETT.

The SPEAKER intimated to the blouse that the Serjeaut at
Arms had informed him, that notice of process, at the instance
of Sir Francis Burdett, had been served upon him.
Mr. PERCEVAL proposed that the notice should be referred
to the Committee appointed to consider the subject.
Mr. TIERNEY said, this could not regularly be done, till the
notice was in some regular manner before the I-louse. The No-
tice to the Speaker had been entered on the Journals.
The SPEAKER then called for the Serjeant, who was not In
the way, and the su:ject drnln.

Sir WILLI.^.M CURTIS rose and stated, that
he held in his hand a Petition from the Lord Mayor,'
Aldermen, and Livery of the City of London, in
Common•hall assembled, which he was desired to
present to the House. The Petitioners, among other
things, he observed, expressed their sorrow and regret
at certain proceedings of this House, and stated
grievances for which they desired a remedy; that it,
had been declared in this House, that the doors of
Parliament should be open wide to Petitions, and
therefore they came for relief. The Honourable
Baronet said, it was but fair he should mention to the
House, that the Petition was not exactly the petition
of the whole Body of the Livery ; because, though
the Half was rather full, yct there %rem many thou-
sands not present. At the same time he must dc-
dare, that the Meeting was constitutionally con-
vened by the Lord Mayor, and the seatimen:s of the
Petition were those of the Livery so assembled. The
Petitioners, observed the Honourable Baronet, after
stating certain grievances of which they complain,.
be-, this House to reconsider the measures lately
adopted with reference to the committal of Mr. Jones
and Sir Francis Burdett, to retrace your steps and to
expunge from the Journals the resolutions come to on
that Occasion. Now these sentiments though coming
from the Livery, it is my duty to convey to the
House, as one of the Representatives of the City of
. London, yet I must declare that they are very far
from bting.tny own (Hear, Lar:)
The Petition was then brought up and read by the
Clerk at the table.

PETITION OE"fIIE LIVERY OF LONDON.

Sig• W. CURTIS then moved that it do lie on the

table.

Mr. Secretary RYDER rose to oppose the motion. I
The Right Hun. Secretary declared that in rising to
do so, he was discharging his duty as an independent
Menthe:. of Parliament, and he should feel less objec-
tion to state his men sentiments, because the worthy
Baronet had stated that the Meeting of the Livery
was constitutionally convened, yet the Petition was
not the sense of a very great body of his constituents.
(Hear, Hear.) At the same time he was bound to
give his opinion, that though the Petition %contained
tbe sentiments of the pet sons assembled, it (nigh! not
to he on the table. He cottld not consent to ht,a,
Petition, -certainly drawn up with great art and ad-
dress in order to avoid objection to its reception, be.
laid on the tab:e. The Petitioners having seen that
another petition had been rejected, had recourse to
all the art they possessed to prevent a similar fate to
the present petition, b•t it was impossible that the
Howe could shut its eyes to the wording of this pe.
wilich conveyed the most marked insult to the
House, and calculated to degrade it in the eyes of
the country. (Hear, leer.) Some parts of the peti-
tion he could not pass over without .observation.—
They asked, " Where is your justice and your dig-
nity, when you did so and so i" Was not that an
insult ? and if a petition of this nature was admitted
on the table:, the House would deserve to be degrad-
ed, and to be the Mockery and insult of the constitu-
ents of the realm. For these reasons he should move
" That the petition be rejected."
Mr. Alderman COMBE was sorry that the Right
Honourable Gentleman should object to -the reception
of the petition ; rind heswas surprised that he should
do so alter his worthy colleague,- the Hon. Baronet,
had-stated that the meeting was constitutionally con-
vened. The petition was in fact that of the Majority
of .the Hall: It was impossible that the whole of the
Livery could be assembled, as the pan would not
contain them. Of those who were assembled, there

were not above fifty svho held up their hands against
it. It that was not the criterion of the semi/mots of
a bod 3• of pen, be did not know what was. .The

.

Honourable Alderman
,observed that he saw by the
pipers, for :le did not know the fact in any other
way, that a teusitet-rneeting had been held, and
among the names subscribed* at that meeting. to the
resolutions and declaration, he saw eight or ten who
were at the Common Hall, and held ap their hands
against the petition. To be sure every body knew
that at a popular meeting the adverse party were not
allowed to speak. .(A laugh, and bear, hear.) Gen-
tlemen might laugh, but the fact was so ; but, though
they even could not be heard, they held up their
han.!t. (clear, hear 4 He should vote for the peti-
i•tion to be laid on the table. _ _ . _

Sir W. cuturis, i explanation, stated that he
liad not said the majority were not in favour of the

- -
petition.
Sir CHARLES PRICE had the honour of attend-
ing the meeting as one of the Representatives, and he
conceived it his duty to call the attention of the
House to the manner in which it was conducted.—
The House he was satisfied had never assumed power
or privilege but for the people's protection, and there-
fore he was ready to maintain them. At the meeting
he had offered himself to their notice to deliver his
sentiments, but was not permitted, for general cla-
mour was the order of the day. (Mar, hear.) Any
one who was known to be of a contrary opinion was
insulted, and many wished to speak on that side, but
were not allowed. The Honourable Baronet asserted
that the majority of the Livery did not entertain the
doctrines which the petition contained, and lie should
be unfit to represent that city if he did not state so
much. effear, hear.) He was satisfied from the de-
claration issued at the counter-meeting, that the re-
spectable part of the Livery were of different senti-
ments. He must therefore maintain the sentiments
of the declaration, and could not subscribe to the
general opinions of the petition, nor lend a hand to
support it, but vote for the motion of the Right Hon.
Gentleman.

Sir JAMES SHAW observed, that• the Worthy
Baronet bad very properly stated that the Meeting
was legally convened. With respect to its being nu-
merously attended, there might be a few thousands.
The description of them was of a general nature ;
there certainly were many very respectable Livery.
men present. When he delivered his sentiments in
the Hall, he had stated that the language of the pe-
tition was not the language nor sentiments of the
great body of the Livery. There had been another
meeting s►nce ; and to the declaration issued at that
meeting be understood there were fourteen hundred
names subscribed: he could state, that there were not,
in his opinion, 1.1(X) Liverymen at the Common-hall :
he felt it however to be his duty to give support to
the petition.
Mr. WHITBREA D expressed" his surprise at the
conduct of the Right Hon. Secretary in objecting to
the petition, and his conduct in applauding the senti-
ments of the two Hon. Baronets after the statement
of the other Hon. Baronet who presented the peti-
tion. With respect to the smallness or largeness of
the majority in favour of the petition, his surprise was
excited that the Right Hon. Gentleman, who, in
concert with his colleagues, persuaded a majority of
38 only to send Sir Francis Burdett to the Tower,
that he should contend tha . the small number pre-
sent was not the decision of the whole body, thongh
the metting was nearly unanimous, was too much.
The Right Honourable Gentleman had objected to
the expression in the petition of " Where is the dig.
nity and justice of the House ?" As well might they
have said, Wh-re was the common sense of the
House when they threw a shield over the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman, and the Noble Lord when 'char.:
ged with having abetted corruption P' The House
might talk of preserving its dignity, but might not
the people after such a proceeding advise them, if
they wished to preserve their dignity, to begin by re-
tracing their steps, and expunging the resolutions
complained of, which were a di grace to the House ?
Had not the House promulgated the doctrine that
seats were bought and sold, and yet when the people
retorted on their own declarations they must n't be
received. What was the language of the people ?
why that the construction of the House was bAd
Let the House look to their own Journals to be sa-
tisfied that theltssiAtion was t• tie. Did not a Right
Honourable Gentleman, Mr. Yorke, shut the doors
of the House while another Right Honourable Gen-
tleman shtit the ears of the S wereign ; and did not
the first Right Honourable Gentleman, after obtain,
ing a Tellership of the Exchequer for his services, go
down to Cambridge, where he was beloved as a pri-
vate gentleman, to be returned ; but the electors were
so dissatisfied with his public col:duct, that they re.
jected him : and what was the consequence ? Why,
after being appointed to a situation of high official
trust, he was obliged to be returned for a b-rough
In the Crown Office the people were told that Mr.
Yorke was nominated to a seat en the House of Corn.
mons by a Peer of the realm ; could the House, after
this, complain if the people talked or the construction
of the House of Commons, and complained of it ?
The Hon. Gentleman saw no objection to the peti-
tion on account of its language. The Middlesex pe-
tition was rejected, yet that petition was not so
strongly worded as the Westminster petition, which
was received. Then conies the City of London, end
that was to be rejected because the petitioners had been
studious to avoid giving offence. Whatdid Ministers
want ? Did they desire that the subject should pe-
tition according to the form u:iich they should pre-
scribe ? And was it intended, in case they should
remain long enough in office, to tell the people that
unless they did so, they should not petition at all.—
Mr. Whitbread then adverted to the opinions deli.
vered by the Right Honourable Secretal y on the pre-
ceding,night, .with respect to the case of Mr. Wilkes ;
and, he observed, that to the struggles of that patriot,
assisted by the legal opinions of Lords Camden and
Chatham, on the subject of General Warrants, the
people were mainly indebted for the preservation of
their remaining liberties. He then noticed the refusal
of the Right Honourable 3entleman to allow the Li-
very to approach the Throne ; and observed, that
the name of the Sovereign had been indecorously used
to sanction Ministers in their ref usal. He contended,
that the Levee, from 17'7.5, to the year 1809, was the
proper place to present Addresses ; that until the
Right Honourable Gentleman refused to allow them
to see the ling, they had never been denied ; that
the obstructions which they had met with were truly
stated by Mr. Cartwright, and was proceeding in his
observations on the former discussion, when
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER

.1.1-

,rose to preer. The Hon. Gentleman, he ee.n„.
was clearly disorderly in referring to a tom.? dthae." .
1 Mr. WHITBitEAD admitted that he
Was ;li
e,
'order. He then proceeded to comment on the out
duct of my Lord Hawkesbury, when Se -;.
cre:i (It
State, who, he understood, never presented ore ;:a.
drcss. In what situation then, he observed, did te
subject stand ? After some further observations (4
1 these topics, the Honourable Gentleman cot:tended,
that the House would be departing more and
tr,(l,
'from its dignity if it refused to receive the petit;,...
and would be committing an act of injustice to ::',..
pimple.
Mr. WILBERFORCE roseioto suggest the Ne.
priety of adjourning the debate, in orde,ormtougliilc•ehtirt:
for mature deliberation. When he considered tl-e
extreme responsibility of the body it
,fresent petition emanated, he could not bin elcct,i.
tingly wish that the final decision upon the recept,ol,
or rejection of it should be after full censideration.
It was due to the Livery, after the calm manner is
which the two former petitions had ken considce(l,
that they should experience similar attenti,:n. 1:.,
Would' rather that the result of the deliberation siiol,,i
be after the. petition had been attentively read, and
not that the House should come to a vote upon the
casual reading of it at the table. Sure he WAS that
Iu r respectltomt:,
by so doing the House would be sheenwtiny
the first city in the world, and to the people of Eng.
land. He could not conceive any injury could corns
from adjourning the debate for m
and therefore should move " that the debate be ad.
journed till to-morrow "
Mr. W. SMITH had read the Petition nth care,
and was prepared to vote immediately. He thouel:t
the opinions of the Right Honourable Secretary vot
of all time and place, and if acted upon likely is
lead to eniless disputes. It had been agreed on ail
hands, that the meeting of the Livery was legal, tlvir 1
the majority were in favour of the Petition, bet 11,;7. 1
it was objected that the sentiments were such as could
not be received. Why, it was not likely the re:i.
tioners would petition against what they did not l;k2,
and therefore the Petition must in some degree k eh.
jectionable. With respect to the two former Peti.l
tions, he had objected to the Middlesex Petition, k-
cause it contained offensive expression. The present
Petition did not contain aoy thing of that nature, bet
merely asserted matters cf fact, which in their kliet
they stated to exist. On this ground therAnr, of thc
Petition stating facts, he should vote for its lying ca
the table.

Mr. BARHAM thought there was no ground to
induce the House to refuse the Petition. He had
read it attentively, and could not see to what pa!!
any reasonable ground of objection could be statei!,'
unless it was to that part which alledged that mitr:ltr
bad been committed, when, in point vf fact, thAt
allegation had not been proved. He agre:%lll46
Honourable Gentleman, (Mr. Whitbread) that, :Is
to matter, the first petition was the strougor ti.e
second less strong, and this least of all. Bat he rr.
iected the second, not on account of the terms, bat
because it was not a peti.ion at all. Of the. przscet,
he did not know to` what pai t to object. To that part
which asked, « where is your justice and dignity ?"
he saw no objection, but on the contrary snbscvi:,A
to the opinion as referable to the case alluded, a, k
deed he did to many of the assertions in the

Lord A. HAMJLTON conceived that no alarm
could be excited so gf....at as that in which a miniv:y
succeeded in dragging along with them this Here,
in their objection to the subjects' Petitions. M..:
parts of the petition now under cinsideration had :!•i
sanction of the House, for they were expressions vsel
and adopted by the House, and caught by the I'a:-
timers, who infused them into the petition. As to
the dignity of the House being affected, he must r
ies- to the resolutions of last year on the su!ject (,f die
charges against two of his M.►jesty's Ministers, which
resolutions did not increase the dignity of tlie House.
Such being his opinion, he should on sonic future dosi,
move to have them expunged. If the House ex;wctc.l
respect and a proper attention to dignity, they limit
begin to practice it, and not be content with mere de.,
clarations.

Mr. C. ADAMS thought the petition was rather
of a mandatory nature. The Hon. Gentleman drew
a distinction between the assertions in it, which
thought made all the difference, and Jiewed that th!
petitioners, though guarded in their language, nic.int
to convey a strong. sense of induect insult.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIE(.2":'.
desired the House to look at the substance

'of the paper, and then to say what it was, • 7
or not it was meant as an insult. Were they to
sul- the Journals to see what was (.:- what was not.'
insult ? They were to consider whether the Ptipct
which had just b.-en read was an insult., uithoutcon-
sulting forms and precedents. He desired the House
,to attend to what the l'et;tion stated, and then pro.
matinee whether it was cous:stent with the dignity of
the House to receive it ? They said that the yn
ina of the House of Commons, in imp: t"°
of their iellow.sobjects, was not only apinstlaw,but
that no House of Commons, no King, no Parliament,
Legislature upon earth could' make it legal. Then
they said, that the construction of the House Pre-
vented their feeling surprise at this conduct ; and in
addition to this, they expressed their indignation
disgust at a vote of the House of Commons! Cony
any one doubt, then, that it was intended to instill
the House, under the mask of a pretended
It might, perhaps, be said, that the vote at %%114h
they had expressed their indignation and disgust was
one in which he Was particularly concerned, and that
this was a ground of objection with him to the recer-
tion of this petition. He had evidence to chew that
he would not have objected merely on that ground.
—A former petition, which condemned the irate is
question, had been received, and with his concur-
rence, because he thought that the House ought ta
put the best construction possible upon petitions.—
But when they came week after week, and day after
day, manifestly with a disposition to insult the House,
it was high time that the House should look to i:s
own dignity. In their attempts to vilify and ilegia.le
the House, he was sorry to say that persons nitliin
it seemed to follow Otero, nay, to set the example
the insulting language which they employed = an.:
the Honourable Gentleman opposite seemed to ta.;-t
the lead against the House—(Hear, heir.) If otx
petition of this kind should be received, then the ar-
gument would be that none of the mine deseriptit'-ti
should be refaced. He hoped, however, the H 4 t;c•
wotet never glow this great principle to be or,:

$

yield to them, He was tilling to modify the Bill in " That the pet
compliance with the suggestions of his Noble and Mr, Aldan
Learned Friend ( Lord lllenbnrougli ), and he trusted Honour.* ble
it would not be attempted nova to throw out the Bill of the petition
-when- the Lords were not surhaioned, and when an do so after his
- oppoiatiOti was wholly unexpected, • had.stated the
Lord HOLLAND vaiirmly panegyriied the me- veiled. The ;
• gives which had 'induced his. Noble and Learned of.the
Friend (Lord Erskine) to bring-in this fill, the ex- Livery could 1
galenite of his heart, the splendour of his talents, and Contain them.
the services he had rendered to the brws of his coml. were not abuvd
try—Much, however, us he lamented that he sh...ld it. It that we
be compelled to differ with bit Noble and Learocd a body of ;nen
. _ ,

r

. .
that petitions ought always to be conehekik
j ''ll..l,lmuaze deterit am! respeetfol to the Assembir ad-
ems' ;ed. l'ilongh there should appeai harsh expresr•
sions in a petition, and such as Members might nos
think altogether proper, yet where. there appeared no
disp-,sition to insult, the House would not he captious
in objecting to its reception. But here there. could,.
no.douht, at least he had NM doubt, that it was in,
tended to insult the Kotise, 'ant .therefore the peti..
tarn might to be rejected. His own mind was cbra-
r
Hely made up on thesublict; but as he had agreed
t
oan ajjonrontent "en a former Oteasion, hp would
nrt object to it 'now, being sensible that the decision•
of the House might derive weight from thio.proet
desire to avail,' rathniss, and to pirkei4 war firm
deliberation. •
Mr. WHITBREAD said a fisistvor:Sh exPlinsa:
tai D• 'file present petidoiseri, he said, it'd is at
reoliar predicament. -Therlacti sfs 1* contended,-
t!hr hit af petitioning the-Kirig on the Throne, and
wetr till the preserit Ministers came into office had
t'aer been refuied the opportunity of presenting them
Is 3 levee. He believed no insult was intended in
the Iktition.. Whatever might be said of him, he
would to the day. of his death stand up for the rights
of the people of this country, even against the injus-
tice of the House itself ; and would think that be
yer c be more clearly engaged in his duty than
ia doiag so. lie had said, and would say, that the
Home of Commons had on more occasions than one.
bier ranting to its own dignity, and guilty of injus-
tice aviosc the people. The P.ight Hon. Gentleman
bad said that he (NIG W.) took the lead against the
House. Whoevcr,might be ..the leader agatiast-the
House, he (Mr. Percival) would be incapable of
meeting him even if he had justice on his side,-and
far less if he was in the wrong. This House, created
by delusion, and a most abominably and bigottecl
cry, would perhaps be dissolved another act, of
rashness,' in order to set one evert more pliable. But,
whatever might be its 'end, Undei' the management
of the .Right Honourable- Gentleman, if would ter-
minate in disgrace. . •
Lord A. HAMILTON eiplained.
C.iptain PARKER -contended that die petition was
an insult. It was an arsfai snare :0 entrap them,for he
could not otherwise account for the violence of the.
lion. Gen:icmen opposite. They gave their opinion,
and it was time to strew them that the opinion of the
Erase was more valuable. He considered the part
where they talked of the murder of unoffendiog eitie
seas, as an accusation of murder against the House
of Commons. He thought the frequent allusions to
the Teller of the Exchequer' very unfair, and, ex-
pressed his conviction that Mr. Yorke would" hive
beea returned for the county of Caebbridge, if -he
Lad stood. .
Mr. Alderman COMBE, in an'sWet to 'a *mark
made respecting the :Mall number of 'signatures,
said, that this was in consequence of a,Resgtation
passed, that it should be signa by. two Ardirnica
aad ten Liverymeti.
Mr. kYDEIt said, that the course adopted' with
respect to the Petition of the Livery in •December
last, was exactly that which bad been prosued, with
respect to others by the friends of the Hum Gentle-
men opposite, when in Office.
Mr,, WHITBREAD said,--thatatt was flute to
purpose to state what others had done. The goes-
um was, whether he had acted properly ? and in 'his
*ion he had acted with very great impropriety.
It was then agreed that the discussion shifull be
adjourned till to-morrow.

MACAO.

Mr. Pitt!siDERGAST, in pnrsnance of his 'no-
tice, entered in:o a long description of the expedition
sent under Admiral Drury to the Island of Macao,
and of the consequent breach of good understanding
hewer!! the British there and the Chinese Govern-
ment. After a variety of observations on the exim-
diency of procuring every poisible information with
respect to a transaction, which he characterised as
11), disgraceful and impolitic, he moval that There
le;id before the House the following papers t-
all dispatches, with their dates, that had been
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, mid the
Court of Directors of the East India Company,
ee Expedition sent under the command of this
(-Admiral Drury, to the Wand of Nlacao, In the

ill orders issued by the Ltd* Commissioners of
to his Excellency Rear-Admiral Drury. en the
reports made by hint relative to the Wile of that

all orden given by the Board of Contmul, and
It to the Governor-General of India, to the
~)teargoes at China, relative to the late expedition
) any ficeupatiou of that [standby the troops of the
,pany "

I)UNDAS, at don3iicral& length, de-
:xecutive Government, Lord Mint°, and,
's Supercargoes, 'horn any imputation
.pen the ttancactitms at Macao.. He op-
aten, as tending to n.i good purpose, but
try calculated to produce sonie injury.
.)HNS'I'ONE supported. the ni(tion......
to involve this country in hostilities with.
opinion, demanded the most serious us-

LLIS objected to the production of the
would be attended with considerable

:E POPHAM maintained, that at least a
papers moved for might be produced. His
ing was to do justice to Admiral Drury,
'or the production of the papers.
\NT.disapproved of the expedition to Ma-
of opinion no good could arise from the
of the Papers. The conduct of the Corn-
Chief had been, in his opinion, most praise-.

Ong reply from Mr. PRILKDERCAST, and a
tom Mr. A. TIM/ANTON, the question was
lie Noes seemed to predominate. The
then cleared for a division, but the House
(de, the question being negatived (as we
without a divi.,ien.

we.sr INDIA DOCK COMPANY.
!rig t;.e (;alicry, we found Mr. BA a RAM in posses.
elllin? their attention to the circumstance of
:et
W Company divid:ng a clear in per cent. ur
ithou thence making any deduction for the Pro-
le intended at that time to sistimit a resolution to
the subject, which he had it in contemplation to
BdL The Honourable Gentleman then moved as
the opinion of this House, that the West India
Til in dividing on their capital a clear five per cent.
it rreviousiy &ducting a due. proportjon for the
. exceed the extreme rare of interest allowed by the
MIA °this present Majesty."

...a, ~.~aw~.a~-

1. &Mr. ittpurßT did not approve of the Ugandan. The Mt of the 39th gave the Company s free-profit often per cent. mak
lug no condition with respect to the Income Tee, which did not
then exist. Every new tax on West India produce, made the risk
' of the dividends not amountiog to so much, greater than before
There was no doubt but the full taxes were paid on the whole
routs of the Company. If, In the Income Tax, there !sac' beets
a clause, malting it imperative on the Company to deduct the
Ptoperty Tax from the Dividend of each Share-holder, he would
ask if the Zest India Dock Company would not have a case to
submit to the House claiming some amelioration. They would
have said, " We have saved the Public annoallv X 400,000, and
50,1100 to the• Revenue of the Country; If then by wise
management we still make such a dividend, ought we to be sub-
!..cted to the operation of the Act ?" He concluded by moving,
as an amendment, That the Debate should be adjourned to that
44y sift moddis.
Mt.-BARING thought-the subject should be followed up either
Its th 6 manner his Honourable Frieed had proposed, or in some
other which might appear more eligible to the House. The opi-
nion of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman opposite would
doubtless be muftis:sty looked to by the House as to the possibility
of setting the question to rest in &court of law. If a better way
Of proceeding were pointea out by Gentlemen on the other side
•of the' House, he should bow to their decision; Mat if they did
not do so. he should vote for the resolution.
Mr. MANNING admitted that the Company had a right to
the r 10 per cent, but out of that they were bound to pay the pro-
perty tax, as every other subject did, from whatever funds his
income might arise. Instead of this, they had paid the pro-
perty tax out of the Reversionary Fund, which was intended by
the Act to lessen :he rates on West India ptoduce. Upon the
whole, it appeared they bad misconetrned the act. If they were
to depute some person to make a declaration of their being dis-
posed to submit to the.operation of the act, further proceedings
would be unnecessary. He should support the motion.
Mr. HUGHAN opposed the resolution, because if there were
any ground of complaint the law was r pen for he invest ifeieti.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, the Company had a right
to such profits from the public as' would make up a divided of
ten per cent. but when their profits seceded that the residue W. 4
to be a;tpl'ed to the pubi:e service. Wishing well, as he did, t •
the Caaipany, of which'ito one had spoke too highly, he thought
the"' should be called upon to declare what would be their conduct
Ali foam. If they would not submit, the public had a rent:--'.y,
though tb apply It nvght be troublesome. From the con, ruct.on
b put upon the act, he thought tl.e surplus appropriated to Cl'•
public ought not to be burthened with property-tax on their
profits. That nu, ht to be paid out of the ten per cent. they tit •
aided on die capital. He concluded by expressing his rtKret at
finding himself unable in the present instance to support the Corn-
&stay.

BARMM, in reply, str. his readiness to adopt that
mode of proceeding nto.t agreeable the HOLM:.
Mr. W. smITH thought the adv..itages arising to the country
Rein the Company were incitlenul, and that the ityonte.tax
ought to be ;mid on the ten pet cent. they divi led on the capita:!.
The SOLICI I'OR.GENERAL spoke in praise of the Com-
pany, but concurred with the Attorney-ltentral in his construe.
tion of the Act, as involving a question of private right ; he hoped
the resobition would he but a preparatory step leading to a mea. •
sure on which both Houses could give their opinion and set the
question at rest.
Mr. 7. descanted at length nn the advantages '
to the Pubbc from the Company. lie had understood they :LI
a right to share 10 per tent. on their capital without any deduc-
tion for the property tax.
Mr. JbHNSON eipresstd hle hope that no proceedings might
be adopted by any resolution M the Houte, but that the question
should be tried in S Court of Law.
' • Mr. BAR}L%M said, that if the Company should continue
thee to divide, it would then be the duty of the House to order
an information to be entered agair st them
'lle CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was of opinion
that it would not be inconvenient for the House to express its
sense by a resolution. It would be extremely difficult to try the
question in any way, and at the same time keei, the arrears out
of sight, which necessarily embraced the interests of the West
India Merchants. •
•

The question was then put, and the amendment less negatived.
The uriginal question was carried without a division.—Adjonrued.

THE EVENING

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per C. Cons money, 704—ace. 701.
Red. 691-4 per Cent. 84:—.; per Cent. Navy 101.1.
Exch. 13111 s, is. to 134. prem. •
PRICK OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.
.Sank 9inek 260 India Stock 1874
S per Cent. Red. Ann. 691 i India Burris 25e. Ms. pre.
II per Cent. Cow:. 70$j Exc. Sills, 44. 13a. pr.
4 per Cent. ttrii R-li Lottery Tickets A'44. is.
Cent. Ana. is
tiff Cous. tor sec. 'hitt-.
Long Ann. ”li 9-14

Muniteinv and other Paris Papers, to the 29th ult.
have been received in Totivn. In these there is a let-
ter. from Bayonne, mentioning tbat the French fri-
gates Venus and &Ilona have had an action in the
Bay of ll_•ngtl with the British frigates the Psalm it-
taise and Fox, and a cutter ; and that the two Bri-
tish frigates were taken. But we are confielmt th.►t
the statement is altogether unfoun!ed.

List night the SPEAKER informed the Honse
Commons, that legal process had been served on the
Serjeant at Arms for the late proceedings against Sir
FRANCIS BURMITT, Baronet.

Lard ARCHISALD HAbiILTOM also gave notice of a
motion for expunging from the Journals the resolution
of list Session exculpating Lord CASTLEREAGH from
.
the chtur of trafficking for Seats in P.uliament.

Mr. HAS; of the Bank of England, yesterday com-
munitated to the members of the Stock Exchange,
that on Friday morning next Mr. PERCEVAL would
be glad go see such Gentlemen as were desirous of
bidding for the ensuing Loan, in order to appoint a
day for the bidding; to arrange the. terms, and mule
other preliminaries.

We mentioned, a few days ago, on what we then
considered as good authority, certain changes in the
Ministry which were expected to have been speedily
announced. This affair has now assumed a -new
complexion. 'lt is confidently affirmed that Marquis
y(fr.L.l.Est.Ev certainly made to the Km? an offer of
Mr. 'A.IOIIINCI.S services, in any situation in the present
Government where his MA-rim might think them
desirable.' To this overture it is repived that his
idAnsry replied, that he was not disposed to admit
aoy person into his Councils who was uot agreeable
to Mr. PEtickyst..l

. Yesterday the Princess of WALES and Ducliess of
BituSswicit dined 'with her MAJESTY and the Prin.
owes. —ln the eteiting their MAJit4tes had a select
pity. to tea and tiaras : among whom wire the Coun-
tesses of. CAntecisv eft k*l • Ladj WAIL.
MORAVA i* Loa Sr. HELEN'S; Geijerai mina& I
Y:
Colonels Howmen and Amitp Name. 's A. STA
MOPE, SNEED, and Howls.

.: _ ~..-=

cry, would per
rashness,' in or
whatever migl
of the .Right
Initiate in disgr
Lord A.
Captain PA
an insult. It ws
could not nth(
lion. Gen:lcm
. and it was tim.
Erase was ma
where they tall
zeas, as an act
of Commons.
the Teller of
pressed his co
beta returned
Lad stood.
Mr. Aldorm
made respectil
said, that this
passed, that
and tea Livery
Mr. kYDE
resFct to the
last, was exact'.
respect to othe
men opposite,
Mr, WHIT
purpose to stir
tiara was, whet
opinion he ha,
It was then
adjourned till
Mr. PRE'
fee, entered i.
sent under A.
and of the con
between the B
meet. After
diency of proc
%Peet to a ti
disgrac
bard before
••:;,4 of at
by the L
iloontal,le the (
rd+ ire to the lie
Itzelieacy Rear-
Leese Seas.
" Copies of ail
I', Admiralty tc
mid of of the rep
I • lapeltion.
Covies of al
•
ea orders sent
CJoipailyts Super
tc'M-Lcao, nr
E+s#ll2 COrp:
Mr. R. S. 1
t. fendel the Es
Company'
conNequer t up
Phed the snot
to tlie contras
t. • /dr. G JO
ai 4ay attempt
vo C4:na, in his
ut lestigatioa,
Mr. AvAL
ell ?Pen,
re- :iro •
• nVenietlce
in Sir ROMI
nd Part or the pa
del '%'ire in risi
by
tilt
Y ? Mr. GRA]
h tab, lint was
~as production of
Ntt tander in cht;
ep.
:sat f fitter a for
id.
:Iv x ords ft.(
in Pat, when tb
UT- C'lierY was
eLi to r•qt
•—• Vciitt4znd)
ter
!""eteer
its /he u
Ito We" tuS.'"
Llile, N.- • l
aa
It
?illy lVital t
ul a,.
tit. tioti
'a
fpo,w "il
a uP I' a
ke rewuk.n.
"mi
Pot!,
4111 kr,,p4,n7 "i 47Pat
te
Act ag• the
use
•
•