Star.
London, England, 1826-02-10 00:00:00

FOREIGN SILLS.

Mr. BARING presented a Petition from the Inhabi-
tants' of Taunton, signed by two thousand persons
against the importation of Foreign Silk*. The con-
sideration of public distress arising from the influx of
Foreign Silks, he said, would press itself in many
shapes %poi' the attention of the Hou.e. The con•
sequence was ruinousio thousands of unhappy sufferers,
who were enduring the last degree of misery At the
pr sent time, and. tier-etme, he hoped that h:s voice
w0...1d be iIe4ILL on third. bLI:AIs. was sorry not to

see the Right Hon. President of the Board of Trait in
his place. He (Mr. Huskisson) would see the necessity
of setting the question at rest, not merely in his own
mind, but in that of the country at large. The question
now was, whether the House would support Ministers
in the desperate plan to which they had resorted ?
Manufacturers could not afford employment to men,
until they were aware of their tate. They were per-
suaded—(whether sight or wrong in their opinion was
not now the point to be considered)—. that they could
not sell a single yard of silk in competition with the
French. The question coull only be set at rest by 4
Bill. Matters were now in quite an unsettled state.
The conduct of Government had justified a suspicion
that they would not scruple to take liberties with the
law. The late order sent to prevent the issuing of
stamps from the Stamp-office wai a direct violation
of the existing law, He was as anxious as any
man to get rid of the one and two pound notes, but he
wished to see them abolished gradually, and by legal
means. The conduct of Ministers might be justifiable,
but they should have paid that reasonable and proper
!respect to the Legislature, to state the urgency of the
occasion which induced diem to contravene the ex-
isting law, and not leave it to the accidental explanation
of the Secretary of the Treasnry. He had to complain
of a similar infraction wi:h respect to the silk laws—
After discussion it had been agreed to afford t' e Silk
Throwster a protection of 7s. 6J. per lb. thus giving
him an advantage over the manufacturer. In the course
of that discussion, he (Mr. Baring) warned the House
that such a measure would tend to the destruct on of
the manufacturer, and by a natur tl consacpreisce to that
of the throwster also. It was now found that resu is
confirmed his anticipations, and the 7s. 61. WA a likely
to dwindle down to 2s. 6d. As if laws were of no
effect, an Order in Council was sent down to receive ss.
in lien of the 75.6 d. This surely was unconstitrition
and could not be endured. To talk of our prosperity,
amidst this intensity of distress, was equally .absurd
as to tell a sick man that be was in perfect health. An lion. Bart.
Member for the county of Somerset, on presenting a Petition, had
stated that the inhabitants of that County were satisfied with the
Corn Laws. He (Mr. IS.) was commissioned to say that they were
not. Here was a Petition signed by 2,000, who ►ay that the re-
moval of restrictions, not to be injurious, must be extended to the
Corn Laws.

' Mr. HUSKISSON wished to excuse himself for
not being present sooner, according to the wishes ex-
pressed by his Hon. Friend, the Member for Taunton.
—His only apology wass that he bad been absent for
the discharge of the duties of that office which be so
unworthily filled, and from which he had Repaired to
the House with the least possible loss of time. As t,) the
order of the Treasury s sundown to lower the duty on
thrown silk, it was a mistake to state it as an act done
without authority from Parliament. The Board of
Trade having satisfied themselves that ss. was a suffi-
cient protection, they had directed so much of the duty
to be taken, and that bonds should be given for the
excess of 2s. 6d. per pound, should Parliament not c n-
cur with the Government. The House would see at
once that the whole of the duty was secured to the
public, should Parliament think proper to exact it, and
that Ministers had by no means assumed an ifidependent
controul, or a dispensing power over it. His Hon.
Friend must be aware that it was not unusual lo take
bonds for duties likely to be remi•ted by P.rli intent.
He would not now go into the discussion of 'Pik ques-
tion; a time wculd soon arrive. The derangemeuts i
the trade an.' currency of the country, he deeply re.
erected. He trusted, if the views and conduct of Minivters were
to be called in question, it would be done upon regular motion, and
by a fair discussion of the merits of tbose.plan. which rarliament
bad thought fit, on the recommendation of Government, to adopt.
He was use afraid, on these conditions, to meet his lion. Friend,
even upon this alarming subject of the silk trade. His Hon. Friend
himself would condemn him, should he suffer himself to be drawn
into a premature discussion of those measures of last Session, with
respect to which be avowed that he felt no change of opinion.

Mr. DAVENPORT impressed on the H u•e the
necessity which existed of taking some speedy measures for the re.
lid of the starving Silk Manufacturers. The state of distress in
that body was such as called aloud for the most instant relief that
was possible.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said, that with respect to the
Petition presented by the Hon Member (Mr. Barinz), be knew the
Petitioners in this instance did not complain of the price of provi-
sions at the moment, but feared for the total destruction of their
trade by the measures about to be pursued by Ministers.
Mr. ELLICE said, that no real evil was so bad as the uncer-
tainty which at present existed.
Mr. BARING said, he never had encouraged this
partkuiar measure respecting silk, but quite the contrary, fur he
was almost the only peruse who had raised his voice against it from
the outset. Still it was rather hard, be must admit, to throw the
whole responsibility of the Bill upon the Ministers, when it passed
through the House with almost unanimous approbation.

Mr. HUSKISSON expla:ned, that he never intended
to Intimate that his Hon. Friend bad supported this particular
measure, for had he done so he would have been incorrect. All
he meant to state was, that the opening of the colonial trade, aid
the removal of the duty ou the raw material, had • his Honourable
Friend's approbation.
The Petition fromTaunton was then laid on the tabls,and order,il
to be printed.
Mr. BARING rose, tti aile his Illnitirinle Friend
on the opposite side of the House (Mr. Huskiston), whether it
were true which he had heard reported, that a Gentleman had been
employed travelling abroad collecting information of the state of the
Corn Trade, and Wench report would be presented to the House?
• Mr. HUSKISSON, in reply in the coe.tion iron, his
Honourable Friend, had no difficulty iu stating, that a persists had
been employed by him in travelling to make inquiries on the sub-
ject, at the principal foreign ports connected with the Corn Trade.
The Right Hon. Gentleman said, that the individual had returne 1,
and his report would, at a future period, be laid before the House.
He concluded with moving that the Petition of the Silk Manufac-
turers be pro tented.

PUBLIC BALANCES IN THE BANK.

Mr. PASCOE GRENFELL moved for the produc-
tion of the account of public balances in the hands of
the Bank. The aggregate sum of the public moni s
locked up in the hands of the B ink had, when be first
made a similar motion to the present, about twelve or
thirteen years ago, amounted to no lets than eleven or
twelve millions, which, fortunately, had been' reduced
until it came down from twelve to four millions in
1821. He was sorry to see it now had risen on the
average of 1824 and 18'25, to about 7,200,00 W. of
course the Bank thrived a profit from this investme it,
in the same way as Country Bankers did from
oriyta y
investments. Ha had only to object to the price at
which the business was done, for no one could deny
that the regularity, skill, and promp.itude with which
the Bank conducted this department, namely, the
management of the Public Debt, was entitled to the
highest praise. When the Bank Charter was under
their consideration again, he thought that by a
fair arrangement net less than 250,0001. might be
secured to the public out of these profits. The
Hompitrable Member then moved for an Account of the aggre-
gate amount of all balances of money of the Public in tke hands of
the Bank of England, including all limey taken in exchange tor
Fackequer Bills; also an Account of Uncl.irued Dividends, an
Account of Payments by the Avouutant-Geticrala and of Lott ri
Prises unpaid.
Mr. PEAKSE felt no objection to the production I
the accouath He hoped, whenever the questtou of t

its a 'be bank "ter4 laefore them, or the-Charter of
(-At Company under consideration, it would be calmly
P d gravely discussed. He felt convinced it was for
the public beneat that ehe Bank should not he exposed
tr rivalry, in London at least ; and was satisfied that, in
tile Lite inst incet, and indeed in future, considering this
,v.'s a bold speculative country, if there were no such
body as the Bank, acting without apprehension of
rwnl y, and intr.l idly standing in the gap, that great
ury would be suitaiued, and the shock severely felt by the Pub-
Ic. The Bank, it bhould be recollected, was exposed to louts like
e•her trading companies. and in the late forgeries of a well-known
barker ne the Bank of England, it lost not less than 250,0001.

_ -
Mr. HUM E said he would pardon all the errors of the corn-
rtunication ro the flank, for the sake of that one admission of
1-‘ Majesty's Ministers that Charters were getting out of fashion.
1:e regretted that Lotteries, which the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer had promised two years ago should be at an end, were still
goiri, on, and he feared they would go on for ever, for aught he
knew to the contrary.
_ _ _

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER confessed he
must take some blame to himself for the continuance of the Lotteries,
which had occurrtd in consequence of his not being aware that
the Bill which sanctioned the drawing of perhaps 60,000 tickets,
permitted them to be drawn at different times, in different of sub.
sequent years, so as to spread the drawing of those tickets over
future years. There would be now two more partial drawings,
which he hoped would conclude the Lotteries for ever.
Mr. ROBE RTSON condemned in the strongest terms the policy
of his Majesty's Government, in breaking down the old' commer-
cial system of the country, to make way for theoretical 'lotions of
a mischievous tendency. He alluded chiefly to the condition into
which the silk trade had been thrown, and the manner in which
Government, whilst sweeping away' other charters, were ready
to set up a charter against that class of traders who deserved their

lhe accounts respecting the Bank of England were then ordered.
GOLD ISSUICu.

llfr. ELLICE gave notice, he should on Thursday next move
(r an Account of all the Gold Coin issued by the Bank of Eng-
land in the year 1822, and since then lo the present year —His
object was to disprove what had been asserted, that there had been
a quantity of gold issued by the Bank since the withdrawing of the
I. and 2/. Bank of England Notes in 1823, equal to the quantity
of Bank paper so withdrawn from circulation. On the present
ozca.ion, he would move fur an Account of the amount of Pro-
nm.sury Notes of the Bank of England, and Bank Post Bills, issued
Isy the Bank from the sth of April to the 4th of Fehruary lan
The CHANCELLOR of the EIC.CIIRQUER anticipated no
nbit:ction to the motion. The case to which this information was
mit:tided to apply was one which could not be done justice
to unless the House were possessed of the information now
ruovid fur.

:ill-. PEA USE acquiesced in the sentiment of his Right Hon.
nieud. He believed the Directors of the Bank only withheld their
::counts from the public eye through an anxiety to prevent any
possible prejudice, through their publicity, to the general interests
of the community.
Mr. MONCK thought that very mystery had not a little con-
tributed to the Lie consternation. The candid, official muse of
the &ink of France, each year, had added considerably to the con&
deuce of the public in its resources and arability.
Mr. CA LC It A FT again referred to the subject of the stoppage
of stamps to Country Notes of one and two pounds. Now with
respect to the protection of silk throwsters, the Government bad
,ecured thernklves; but in this instance he wished to know what
security they bad for this measure? Suppose the Revenue were to
suffer to the amount of the stamps. refused to be stamped in this
c_se, had the Right Hon. Gentleman taken any security to prevent
the Revenue being endangered ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was true
his Majesty's Ministers had taken upon then% an authority to do
that which they had no right, strictly speaking, to do. and exer.
Gird ari authority which might render it necessary to apply to
Parliament for an Act to indemnify their conduct. It was be-
lieved to be the only way which could enable Government to give
ilfcct to its intentions in favour of public credit. Possibly there
Were some who would think it was an improper step—but this
would be a subject fur the future consideration of Parliament.
Mr. CA LC lt AFT disclaimed altogether any intention to throw
net Ministers an imputation of intentional misconduct; but it was
like many other things of which they had been guilty—a very great
mistake, to say the least of it.

Mr. BLLICB defended the conduct of Government, because it
would have been in the power of Bankers generally, by form of
law, to have demanded a twelvemonths supply of stamps at the
StanSp Office, and thus have defeated the provident intentions and
intri Terence of Goverment. Ile, for one, should feel no objection
to grant Ministers an Act of Indemnity.
Mr. CALCRA FT was surprised to fend his Hon. Friend argue
as be Lad. Did he recollect that the Country Bankers had applied
wider the sanction of a License for which they paid, and a solemn
guarantee of an Act of Parliament, authorising them to present
:larir notes to be stamped?
Mr. GORDON said. his Majesty's Ministers had, in his mind,
aoticiplted what the lluuse might do, or possibly might nut do.
The Bankers who expected by return of coach several thousand
pounds of stamped notes, had been driven to great straits and
dAculties, although possessed of poverty. He hoped Minis.
ters would reconsider the whole system they were now acting on,
tar if they persisted, in his mind,si?nilar distress to that experienced
by the agricultural and manufacturing interests, iu 1821 and 1822,
would rectar once mote.

Air. ROBERTSON regretted that this step had been taken. It
%fluid wot have been unworthy of Government to have taken the
advice of practical men in this House on the subject, before they
had made up their minds on so important and hazardous a measure.
Mr. MON CK was disposed to compliment Ministers fur the
6. mness which they displayed in the instance alluded to.
Mr. 11USKISSON gave notice that he would, on Monday,
move for leave to bring in a Bill, to carry into effect such stipule-
'tens in the Treaties concluded between this eoantry and the Go-
vernment of South America as may require Parliamentary interpo-
silion and sanction.

'1 he House then, on the motion of the Cuaxentos of the Mi-
ta/swami, adjourned at ilalf.past Seven o'Clock.

By arrivals from Danerara we have received intel-
liv,ence to the 27th of December. The subject of
general discussion in the Colony is the suppression of
Vie Journal, the Guiana Chronicle. We find it was the
subeditor who was confined by the order of his Excel-
leaey the Govansiort, the premises having been forcibly
entered by the officers. As information had been given
of the intention of his Excellency, the house was in
cnntequence shut, and entrance refused ; the officers
to:ced the door, took the subeditor into custody, set
five Colonial Seal upon all papers, documents, and also
von the doors. A letter from S . Thomas, in the same
Paper, ann'nnces that ten slave ships, of which the
Captains and the greater part of the crew acre French,
A.-.!e ready to sail ler Africa, to procure slaves.
Mr. CotIitTSWAY, the new Clerk Assistant of the House
of larrds, cominented his ditties to-day. By the new
iegulazions he has a fixed salary of 2,5001. a-year, be.
,!,:e) the large official house in Palace-yard. Mr. Cow-,
PLR, his predecessor, had fees as well as salary ; and,
naiag to the number of private Bills before Parliament
I:ht Session, his last year's income is stated to have been
Le:ween eight and 10,0001.
Monday evening a public Vestry Meeting of the
Piiishioners of St. L onard's, Shoreditch, was held in
tie Parish Church, tor the purpose.of taking into con-
`iceration'the propriety of Petitioning both Houses of
ment, ear ly in the present Session, praying them to
cri:t prompt and vigorous measures for the ameliora-
of the condition of Slaves, and events illy to abolish
',44,y in our IVes: India Colonies. A Petition to that
4•ct Was carried unanimously, and copies left Or
t" rtes at various places.
In Ole Pier.og:itive Court, yesterday, in the case of
Cr.A eICIt, Dr. LOSIMICTOrt addressed the Court
I rive hours in support of the legality of the will of
Liy SroTT, surgeon and medical electrician,
'l)ribi)lit S. by which the bulk of his property (about
was left to his nephews, Messrs. Tr' MAS and
41,N !!Vi CLaurta, to the prejudice of his daughter,
gCli A ni...TrE M ny Dew. The arguments of the
c weie deterred until the next Court .d.sy. .

TUE RAN! lIRS--AND THE PANIC.

This day is published. price Half-a-crown,
GOLDEN RULES for BANKERS, with O'nerva.
tiung on the yarscprr Panic, and the destruction of COM-
MERCIAL CREDIT; and Animadversions on the Lanai:wow
and Count= of NIINISTEKS.

By Sir RICHARD PHILLIPS.
Printed for Wilson. Royal Exchange ; and Knight and Lacy,
Paternoeter.row.
N. B. Rankers and others who want this Pamphlet for distri-
bution, may have fourteen to the dozen.

Tllle, EVENINi; STAR,

LONDON.

FRID.IY, FEBRUARY 19, 1826.
STOCK F.XCI4ANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK,
The Consol Market this morning has somewhat improved, and
affairs are not so gloomy as yesterday. Consols opened at 771 for
the Account, and went up to 711 i, with a good deal doing.
We have it again reported that fifteen thousand Exchequer Bills
are going to be funded.
Consols are now 77j 78.

In the Fureign Market there has been a good deal doing in
Greek Stock, which has got up two per Cent. Colombian and
Mexican have fallen.

Current Prices: Old Spanish 101 11, Mexican 601 1, Colom-
bian New 521 1, Russian 7914 •