Star.
London, England, 1819-12-23 00:00:00

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1819.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

TIOUSI OF LOItDS, DECEMBER se.

The Irish Election Afficndtnetit Bill was read s third time
and passed.
It was espeeted that some Bills wcOald have been returned
from the Ilouse•of Commons at the usual time, for their Lord-
ships to proceed to bushyss, but they not having been brought
up, the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Sir H. PABN ELL gave notice, that be wield, after Chriee-
-11116, move similar Resolutions to those submitted by Alm lam
Session for Retrenchment in our Expenditure. ' '
The same Honourable Mather gave troth*, that 4. would
to-morrow (this day) move for Accounts of the Expenditure in
the Civil and Military Departments.
Mr. LYTTLETONpostned his notice of Motion for leave
to bring in a Bill to prohibit unskilful perisiilfrein acting as
Conveyancers, until tirmorrow.
Dr. PHILLIMORE obtained leave to bag a Bill to
amend the Marriage Act. The Bill was sienlier to that which
had been agreed to in the fast Session, and vehnii being there-
Mined to the Lordi, wits there unfortunately delayed to the end
of the Session. ID the interval Meet that time, many atrocieets
and distressing fasteners of salty bed taken.plase to knew.
ledge, which would bane been prevented bad the #il pawed
into a law.
Leave was then giveo, and in a sheet time afteterards, the
Bill was brought in. It was read the first time, and ordered to
be read the second time on Friday, the 18th of February. It
was likewise ordered to be printed.
Colonel WOOD moved for a Return of the number of Va-
grants confined in the different Prisons of London-, Westmin-
ster, and the County of Middlesev,statiog their names, ages,
date of confinement, Ste. front the Ist January, 1819, to the
present time. He said, that a classification of the prisoners in
those different Jails was about to be made, and it was desira-
ble that the number of Vagrants in them should be accurately
ascertained.
General HART moved for Copies of Bonds or other Ste,
ties given by Robert Newman, or other Collectors of Revenue-
Fines iraposed on Town kinds, for Illicit Distillation in /re-

MISREPRESENTATION IN A REPORT.
Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY said, he felt it necessary to rise
in justification of an Honourable Friend of his, the Member for
Portarlington, and in justification of himself, against a gross mis.
represenution which bad appeared in a Morning Paper, which
he would read to the House. The Hon. Member was proceed-
ing to read an extract from the Paper in question when
The SPEAKER interrupted him, and observed, it was un-
usual to read extract,: from any Newspaper, or to name it, makes
it was intended to found some ulterior proceedinp upon them.
The usual course was, to advert to the 'misrepresentation only; a
course which usually led to satisfactory explanation.
Sir W. DE CRESPIGNY then resumediand adverted talkie
speech of Thursday last, as reported in the Paper which he held
in his hand, which imputed to him that he had made a charge
against the Hon. Member for PortatUngtoc of having stated'
opinions respecting the commercial situation of the country,
which his lion. Friend never made, and be never charged hint
with making. In fact, the report of what he (Sir William) had
said, in the Paper in question, Was incorrect, and notbing lees
than a gross misrepresentation. He should not, however, Sankt
any motion on the subject.
CORET OF EXCHEQUER SILL.
The Bill for the better securing of suitors mosey,
in the Court of Exchequer, was read the secogd time,i
and ordered to be committed this day.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, shortly after this Bill was
disposed of, complained that measures of tens
important nature had been hurried through the
House, at a period when it was generally supposed
Parliament had been Called together with a view
only to the State of the Country. He observed, a mea-
sure similar to this had been twice proposed, and
failed as often, because the Hon. Member who
brought it forward refused to recognize any provi-
sion which would give a compensation to the person
who was deriving emolument from the public money.
He now wished to know, if it was proposed to give
any pension to the Deputy Remembrancer ? The
Honourable Member then moved for an account of the
money, &c. of suitors now in the Court of Exhequer,
distinguishing what part of the said money remains
there, as dead money, and unclaimed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
thought that the Hon. Member might have inquired
into what had passed in the House, before he pro-
nounced so decidedly as to certain measures. When
he brought in this Bill, he distinctly stated, that his
object was to have the Bill pass through certain
stages, until it might be prepared for discussion, and
that then it should stand over as long as any Hon.
Member might think proper. He said, that he could,
by possibility, have no personal object in the mea-
sure, and, therefore, could not have any unreasonable
wish to precipitate it through the House.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE said, the Bill was just read
the second time, and stood for committal tomorrow;
whereas the object of the Right Hon. Gentleman
could have been as well attained by having the Bill
printed, after the first reading, and letting it thea
stand over.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
that as this was a Bill whose importance was entirely'
in detail, it would be to little purpose to present it to
Hon. Members for examination, without. having
those details adjusted in a Committee. As soon as
it passed the Committee, it should be printed, and
stand over to any reasonable time—(Near, hear).
The Papers moved for, by Mr. ABERCROMBIZ
' were then ordered. • -
MANCHESTER AFFAIR.
Sir ROBERT WILSON presented a Petition from
James Chisler, of Royton, County of Lancaster, one
of the persons present at the Meeting of the 16th of
August, at Manchester. He stated, that the Meeting
was perfectly tranquil until the irruption of the Yeo-
manry ; that he received two wounds, one in the
head, and another in the arm, from a cavalry sword,
together with bruises, in various pats of his body,
and that the collar-bone, on his right side, was
broken. He threw himself on the humanity of the
House, and prayed that the authors of the violence
might be brought to justice.—The Petition was then
brought up and read, and ordered to be printed.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a Petition from
James Handford, of Royton, a sufferer at Manche:-
ter, on the 16th of August, containing a prayer to
the same effect.—The Petition was read, and orderedl
to be printed. '
Mr. P. MOORE presented a Petition from Joseph
Coates, of the same place) also a sufferer at Man-
cliebter. The Hon. Member expressed a hope that
some opportunity would be afforded by the House

of examining the matter of these Petitions.—The Pe-
tition was read, and ordered m be. printed.
Mr. RICARDO presented a Petition from ThCimas
Smith, of the same place, another sufferer at Man-
chester, with a similar prayer.—The Petition was or-
dered to be printed.
Mr. GRAHAM presented a Petition from Joseph
Taylor, of the same place, who suffered also at Man-
chester, with a similar prayer.—Ordered to be printed.
Hr. BOOTLE WILBRAHAM thought it eight
ro notice the very remarkable circumstance, that all
'the Petitions, which had been just presented, were
whiten in the hand-writing of the same person, ap-
parently, and that it looked as if they were presented
concurrently, in order to drive the House to insitute
an inquiry.
Mr. GRAHAM said, he only knew that the Peti-
tion presented bylim was the Petition of an indivi-
dual whom, be believe* to have suffered, as he stated
intiut Petition. ' • -1: • •
Mr. B. WILBRAHAM did not mean to question'
tl4utstha/the;tatemehts, bat he thought it his duti
to call the attention of the 'House to the remarkable
circumstance which -he had pointed out.
*NANCE
Mr. OBE/WELL said, that finding the Chancellor
of the Exchequer was that morning reported to have
said, with reference to a question put to him in the
House, that he believed the Revenue of this year
would go to the same extent that the Revenue of last
year had gone, and that there would be a clear sur-
plus of five millions applicable to the reduction of
e Debt, the surprise and pleasure which he, as well
is many others, felt at this statement, induced him
to apply for a confirmation of it from the Right
Honourable Gentleman himself, and. he hoped that
the Right Honourable Gentleman would not be dis-
inclined to restate what he had said.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
he could have no disinclination to 'restate *hat he
had said. In answer to an observation from an Ho-
nourable Member on the other side, he .lead stated,
that from the progress of the Revenuethis year, he
saw no reason for supposing that any material devia-
tion would take place in the plan which he had laid
down to the House last year.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, he was one of those who
derived great satisfaction from the statement of the
Right Honourable Gentleman yesterday ; but for the
greater satisfaction of the House and the Country,
he wished to know if the Chancellor of the Exchequer
meant to say, that he expected to have a clear sur-
plus of five millions available to the reduction of the
Debt, or did -he expect, from the state of the Revenue,
that it would not be in his power to appropriate that
sum to the prorsed object?
The CHAN ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,
it would, have been more, reasonable if the Honour-
able Member had waited.until the regular time for
the discussion of those :subjects. Bet even then be
had no difficulty in stating his belief that, within a
moderate compass, the produce of the Revenue this
year would be equal, in every respect, to what it had
been calculated to amount to last Session—Wear).
Mr. BROUGHAM said, the explanation was very
satisfactory, and would have been a little more so,
but for the 'hitch as to f, the moderate compass"
which the Right Honourable Gentleman introduced
'into his statement. .
CASK of OPPRESSION.
Mr. BENNET stated, he held in his hand a Peti•
tion, which prayed that no additional extent of discre-
tion should be allowed to Magistrates. The prayer
of the Petition was founded upon a representation of
some curious facts, which he should detail to the
House. He should first observe, that he bad made
the most particular inquiry into the character of. the
Petitioner, -and he bad the best authority for believ-
ing, that he was an individual of strict integrity, and,
in no way connected with politics. The individual,
Iwhose name was John Lever, was a resident at Man-
.ehester, and stated, that in 1812 it was proposed to
him by a Magistrate, well known in the neighbour-
hood, to be employed as a Government Spy. was
well known that this sort of character had been very
common, and was not only not denied,• but openly
defended in that House. He was told at the time
the proposal was made, that it was intended that he
should go through the different districts of Lancashire
and Yorkshire, and that he might occasionally go the
length of cursing the King, and if committed for se
dition, he would be speedily libcrated. The man,
however, being an honest man, refused to be so em-
ployed, and in consequence of his refusal, incurred
the hostility of the Magistrate. Shortly after this,
he was taken up on a charge of sedition, and exhi-
bited as General Ladd; but, on its being disco-
vered that he was not the person who had tilled that
character, was discharged. Some time afterwards
he was taken out of his bed, and sent to prison on a
warrant, where he subsequently found that he had
been committed on a charge of murder. The Ho-
nourable Member said, that doubting the accuracy
of this statement, he had procured a copy of the ca-
lendar, and found the name of this person, and the
charge in it, exactly as he bad stated it.• It appeared
that the charge originated from the statement of a
convict on board one of the hulks. However, Lever
had oat been confined long, when by the aid.of his
wife, two certificates were procured from a physician
and a surgeon, stating that they bad known the per-
son alleged to have -been murdered by Lever, and
that this person, so Fax from being murdered, bad
died of a fever. Though those certificates had been
put into the hands of the Magistrate already
..
men-
tioned, he still kept the unfortunate man in prison,
with a number of felons, and with all thesaid disgrace
of murder. The Honourable Member ,he be-
lieved that no Bill was presented to the Grand Jury
against this person for murder. He wrote to the So-
licitor who was engaged in the cause, but be was
unable to give any information upon the subject.)
He had seen the Jailor's book, and there was inserted
the name of John Lever, on a charge of murder. The
accused was afterward; brought up isod. tried—not
. . .

for murder—hut for a political misdemeanor, whed
two meN witnesses, swore to the most ridicelotit
stories. The Jury, however, found him guilty, al+
though the Judge had declared the stories of the
witnesses to lie absurd in the extreme. It was stated
on the trial, that the prisoner expressed a wish " for
the death of the King, and that his tea Might be
sweetened with a pound of sugar of lead r Such
was the statement upon which the Petitioner prayed
that the House would not grant any a-dditittnal power
to Magistrates, seeing those Officers could be capable • -
of making such a mischievous use of the discretiott
entrusted to them. •
Mr. HUSKISSON said, it was somewhat 'remark+
able that the Hon. Member should have preferred
giving his assent to the statement of the Petitioner,
rather than the contradiction which was gieen to that
statement by the verdict of a Jury. It was not his
intention fo go into the question of facts; but he bek •
lieved, that if individuals who had reason to be dies
*satisfied with the verdict of a Jery could appeal to
that House for redress, Palliaseemearetild be. pow
petually employed upon Petitions of this nature. If
the Magistrate in question had acted as he was teprea
seated to have done, there were no doubt opporto+
nities enough •for redress. He submitted that the
House was not the proper tribunal to entertain the
charge preferred against the Magistrate,
Mr. BOOTLE WILBRAHAM said, that having
understood a charge of this sort was about to be prey
filmed, he had taken some pains to inquire into the
facts of the affair. The result of his inquiries he
would now lay before the House. It was very gettea
rally allowed, and he trusted the House would bear
in mind, that no man ever stated his own case against
himself. It appeared that this person, John Lever,
was apprehended in 1812 on a charge of sedition,
upon the warrant of a Magistrate; and it was to be'
remembered that this was not the Magistrate to whoa
so much allusion had been made in the Petition.
While the individual was in prison, a letter was re.
ceived from Mr. Graham by the. Magistrate men-
tioned in the Petition, and in this letter was inclosed
a communication from the Deputy of the hulks at
Portsmouth. The subject of the communication was
thist—.One of the convicts on board a hulk at Port.'
sea, whose name was. John Harpur, had given in-
formation on oath, that to the best of his belief and
knowledge, John Lever had committed a murder, in
company with another individual, on the body et
Thomas Chadwick, about three years before that
time.--He stated, that on the night of the reported
murder of Chadwick, he was returning from some
distance to his house, and seeing two men, one of'
whom was• Lever, on the road, consulting together,
he went over to ask them- what they were doing ?
They immediately required of him not to disclose to
any one that he had seen them; they so intimidated
him, that he fell on his knees sod pledged himself
not to give any infoemation about them, and after
that be ran home in a profuse perspiration. That
very night, he wrote down the circumstance in his
shop book, in order to be aitle to speak with greater
accuracy in case he should be called on afterwards,
He further stated, that John Lever had subsequently
called at his shop, and purchased some articles of
dress, renewing the obligation to secrecy on the de.
portent. The Hon. Member said, that the statement
he had now made was corroborated by an inquire in
the Secretary of State's office, where he found, untie"
the proper date, that Harpur had been convicted of
forgery, and, being on board a convict hulk, was iu
consequence of this information disembarked. The
Magistrate to whom the communication was made,
and who had been so often alluded to in the Petition,
did immediately, as he was bound to, make inquiry
about the individual, and finding that there were
some strong suspicions attaching to bim, he issued
his warrant for apprehending . him. When the pri!..,
sober that brought Up at the Assizes, the family of
the person said to be murdered, refused to prosecute,
But though they refused to prosecute him, it did nct
follow that the charge of sedition should.be abandon-
ed against the prisoner. He was . tvied for the mists
demeanour, and as was stated by the Hon. Member
opposite, he wail found gifilty by the Jury. Having
so fare answered the charge, he had only to add, that
it was now forthe first time brought forward, although,
seven years had expired since the transaction, 40 it
was only by good fortune, thatalle papers, on Which
the defiles* was founded, were not destroyed.`aiteto
the Hon. Member who, wished to present the Petition,.
he could give him all the praise that was due to one
who possessed an excellent heart, but he believed it
laid him.open to a great deal of imposition. He too
readily gave ear to stories of this kind, which waded
to asperse characters not deserving of blame. Mr.
Fletcher, the Magistrate, whose conduct had been
called in question, had performed most arduous du•
ties, with great credit to himself, in troublescme tines.
He had never, in the long course of years during:
which he had helclthe Commission of the Peace, been
once called to account in the Court of King's Bench
for any improper exertion of his authority. It appear.
ed that the object of that and other Petitions was to
establish a case from which an inference might be.
drawn, to prove that no new powers should be en.
trusted to the Magistrates, because some of them had
unfairly exercised the powers with which they were
at present invested. The Hon. Member then observed,
it had been reported that the Magistrates who dis.
perm& the Manchester Meeting on the 16th of last
August, had acted under the orders of Government in
that proceeding. But he could state, that thece was
not one word of truth in it. He knew, from con-
versation with tome of those Magistrates, that chile -
conduct was their own, and that they considered
themselves responsible for it, and such would appear
to be the case at the ensuing Assizes. He again
wished the House to remark, that the Petition was
brought forward after a lapse of seven years.
Mr..BENNE'T said, that his observations on the
Petition had been stualified by his having disclaimed
all knowledge of the facts. Unless the illegal
finentent, and the character of the man, into which