Star.
London, England, 1818-04-22 00:00:00

~

44,00441),40CEED INGS. he

HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL al.
Their Lordships resolved into a Committee of Privileges fpr
the consideration of the Claim of Lewis Bymocke, of Serb/else,
in Lincolnshire, to the Marmyont Peerage. A great deal of
cumentary evislence wart. in on the part of the Claimant
after wilds digs- Ladispe ierion;
riled the farther investigation
of the case until this day selinight.
The Haute then resumed, and t
erafer prayers vere rea4, a num-j
bet afprivate or local IllUs were brght up from the C.ommoisil
by Sic Juice Gasman mid others, and Mad the first time.
The Bail of LIVERPOOL presented, by command of the
Pram Regent, in pursuance of an Address of their Lordships,
specification of the Revenues of the several Royal Dukes, men-
ticsoed in the Address, from various bootees, which was laid
upon the table.
Out of the Clerks of the Patent Office of the Court of Chao.
cery, presented at the Bar a further return of Pardons granted
under the Gteat Seal, with the attendant Fees.
Mr. Brun, front the Receipt of ifachequer Office, is
air Account of the l'roduce of the Consolidated Fund, for. •
y4.lra, ending the sth of April, 1616, distinguishing the
of the respective quarters I each year.—These papers wen-se-
verally laid upon the table. •
The Marquis of DOW NSHIRIE proposed, that .the Paper
pr‘csasted that evening respecting the Incomeof the Royal Dukes,
should be printed.
The LORD CHANCELLOR seemed to think such a
durc unnecessary, as the Paper wts upon the table, an
Noble Lord could, oil reference to it, heroine master of
formation it contained.
The Earl of SII AFTESBURY suggested, that if the
Marquis was Malik/Ito move upon the subject, it. would 'I
ter to defer suds a motion until to-morrow, when his
Friend would be present.
• The Marquis of DOWNSHIRE said he hat no objleS.
to do so.
Some routine business was then disposed of, and an Adjourn•
read took place.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A Penon from the Batik presented Accounts of the number
of persons prosecuted for passing forged tokens and dollars,—
Ordered to be printed.
The Report of the Committee on the Hallamshire Cutters'
Petition was taken into consideration and agreed to, and a Bill
for regulating the trade ordered to be brought in.
M. D. G ELBERT obtained leave tobring in a Bill to regu-
late thiOffice of lustice.General of 'Scotland.
Lord BINNING presented a Petition from the Proprietors
of certain Salt Works in Scotland, praying that no alteration
may be made in the Salt Duties.—Ordered to be printed.
iii .f. ORAHAIiti brought in a BiU to atonent the Salaries
of the Chancery Clerks in the Report Office.—Read a first, and
ordered vibe reed a second time to-morrow.
On the motion of Mr. C. CALVERT, an Account, skewing
the unsount of the duties paid on calico prints An the years 1816
and 1817, distinguishing the amount in each year, and the pro-
duce of the old and new duties, was ordered to be laid before
the Lions..
On the motion of Gonad GASCOIGNE. the Costs of Suit
Bill went through a Committee, the report of which was or-
dered to be received to-morrow.
A Petition was presented from the Parish of St. Mary, Wool-
math, against the Parish Vestries Bill. Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. HART DAVIS presented a Petition from Bristol against
he -Bill for altering the Poor Laws.
. Mr. PROTHEROE stated the Petition to have been signed
by nil few of the inhabitants.
Mr. IL DAVIS offered a few words in reply, and the Pet/.
den was read and ordered to lie on the table.
FINANCE RESOLUTIONS.
The Report of these Resolutions •; brought up,
and leave was given to bring in a Bill in order to
give effect to the first and second Resolutions. . 1
BANK RESTRICTION BILL.
The Bank Restriction Bill was ordered to be read
a second time on Friday.
USURY LAWS.
•
- Mr. Serjearit ONSLOW rose, pursuant to notice,
to' submit to the House a motion cn the subject of
the Laws against Usury. He briefly described the
coarse which the mistaken policy of our ancestors.
had led them to take, and asserted the measures
which they had thought it necessary to adopt. had
by no means accomplished the purpose they had in
view when framing them. He had cmvinced the
Chancellor of the Exchequer of the propriety of tak-
ing this subject into consideration, and had brought
ilia Bill in the last Session, which passed unopposed
to the repat, when, On the recommendation of the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, he (Mr. On• ,
slow) had consented to let it stand over for further'
investigation. He was glad that he had done so, for
the consequence had been, the attention of the w,::-id
had been drawn to it by various writers, and the
subject had been treated with great ability, especially
• in one pamphlet (by Mr. Cooke) which he had read,
and found to contain the soundest opieinns and most
forcible arguments. The only great authority that
he cited In-favour of the Usury Laws was that cf '
Dy. Adam Smith ; and the opinion he had given on'
this subject in his celebrated werk, he had, after
publication, with the tnagnanbaity nrchich belonged
to a great mind, thought it his duty to withdraw.—
The evil consequence which it had been supposed
would follow an alteration of the existing law, grow-
lug out of the sight .of foreclosure in cases of distress,
he shewed were not likely to arise ; whilst on the
contrary he could point out many injuries that were
nouu stistAned, which were the effects of the present
laws..that might be prevented if a Measure.like that
which- he would• recommend to the House were
adopted. The Chambers of Commerce of Birming-
ham and Glasgow had declared in favour of an
-alteration of the Usury Laws, and he trusted the
propriety of complying with their wishes in this in -
stance would at no distant day he admitted. Think-
ing it right to bow to the opinions of others, he
would not now move for leave to bring in a Bill,
but he would content himself with moving for a
Committee to take into consideration the effect or
the existing Laws against Usui y. He concluded by
moving for the appointment of a Select Committee
to consider of the effect of the. Laws now in force to
regulate or restrain the rate of litterest of Money.
General MITCHELL thought the measure in
coutemplation'would be much objected to in Ireland,
and expected many counter petitions weld be pre-
sented on the subject. He proceeded to point out
the inconveniences which he apprehended would re-
sult from altering the Law. against Usury, and ap-
pealed to are House if such a measure could be ne-
cessary at a time like the present, when (as had been
stated in the debate of yesterday) every body could
borrow at 41. per cent. interest. He had never known
". the time when money could not 6e raised on landed
property at an interest of 51. per cent. He thought
they ought to pass to the Order of the Day.
Mr. J. P. GRANT spoke in favour of the motion.
On this subject nearly all parties were agreed ; and
few, if any, denied that the existing laws (seine of
them-at least) ought to be repealed. lleretclore,
when this subject was brou,ght forwatd,- those who
objected tp an alteration of the Usury Laws had
said, the question ought not to be raised at a time
when the interest of money was so high. Now, the

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