Star.
London, England, 1816-05-25 00:00:00

PdRLMMEIVTART PROCEADINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 24.
In the Appeal canoe " Stewart, Mercer, and others v. Elder,
Baird, and others," canoe,
was finally heard, and judgment
postponed.
In the case of " Tho Earl of Ross v. Sterling and others," the
judgment of the inferior Court was partly affirmed and partly
remitted for re-consideration.

The lath Report of tbe Caledonian Company was presented
as the Bar, according to order, and laid on the Table.
The Earl of Datuonste of Scotland, was introduced as an
English Peer, under the title of Baron Dalhousie, and the Earl
of MAYNE as Baron Meldrum.
The Eari of LIMERICK, of Ireland, was introduced as Baron
Pexford. Theme Noble Peers, in quality of their new titles,
took the oaths and their seats, and their supporters were Lord.
STZRART of Garllei, and ard Douotas of Loughleven..
1. Papas were presented at the Bar from the lrl h Llaen Board,
and hint the Royal Keot and Sussex Military Canal Establish-

wears.

REIVRM ATM: or. THE STATUTE LAWS.
The Order of the Day bring read for appointing a Committee
of the Lords to meet a deputation from the Commons in the
'Painted Chamber, agreeably to a former Resolution, the Earls
STANHOPE, DEOWNLOW, HARCOURT, DARNLLY, Lords Toa-
EINCIVON, MELVILLE, the Bishop+ of•Cticsm and Oxroau,
Lord KENYON and Lord REDESDALE, were deputed by their
Lordships for that purpose. Ihe Deputation soon returned, when
• Earl STANHOPE, in the name of his Noble Coadjutors, in-
formed the House that they had met, ha the Painted Clamber,
the Deputation apoointed by the Commons, and in the code.
ranee there, had communicated to Mi.. GEORG*: Rost, and the
other deputed Mentbrr4 from the Commons, the itebolution of
their Lordships. •

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Ent sTA N 110 PE called the attention of the'
House to the circumstances that had recently led to
the rejection of the Bill which had been brought into
that House, for the regulation of Weights and Mea-
sures. That Bill, as it came before their Lordships,
was with great propriety thrown out by them, that
is, it was deferred to that day siz months for farther
discusiion. But though the Bill, imperfectly and in-
adequately framed as it. had been, was wisely re-
jected, it could not be supposed that the object and
principle of it was an indifferent matter to that House,
or to the interests of the Public. It was far other-
wise in the contemplation of all reflecting and expe-
rienced minds, and a Noble Friend near him had
suggested the idea of appointing a Committee to exa-
mine into the question, and to suggest the most effec-
tual or expedient remedy for the evils complained of:
He wished that his Noble Friend (the Marquis of
Lansdowne), than whom few men were more com-
petent, had followed up with his own energies, infor-
mation, and ability, the plant lie had pointed out, ind
he felt it necessary to say, that it was at the desire of
his Noble'Frienil that he came forward on the occa-
soars. =l-f-aeving itgiderlaten the task, however, he
would acquainethe House, that if in consequence of
what he should offer, any plan should be ultimately
adopted, it should be a plan that would have truth,
experience, and nature for its finnuistion,lor without
nature as a substratuth for the establishment of all
such Acts, deliberation and discussion were: mere'
folly. He should not proceed in the regulation and
precise ascertainment of measure by the vague, inde-
finite and absurd rule of barley-corns and horse-ches:
nuts. If any such rule were at that day to be adopted,
what would be the opinion of foreigners of our wis-
dom, our knowledge, our accuracy, and our philostiphy.
How would they be able to associate such rude and
stupid absurdity, to the general characteristic of the
island which we inhabit ? How could thiy reconcile
such ignorance to the genius of the country which
had produced a Newton, a Bacon, and a host of illus.
trious philosophers ?. A plan so silly had never once
entered his head. Ire 1752, when the New Style was
assimilated to this country and to others, there was
only one vulgar objection urged in England, which
was, that eleven days had been robbed from us, and
transferred to the Hanoverians. Yet the prejudices
in favour of the old style prevailed in some parts of
the country, as hi knew-from proofs which had oc-
curred among persons resident on his own estates.—
Upon the whole, however, he was confident that there
was nothing easier than to induce the Public to adopt
a new system of Weights and Measures, formed on
any rational, intelligible, and natural plan. He could
not help recalling the attention of their Lordships to
an enormous abuse whichdse had previously apprised
them of, namely, a Public Office actually mated in
Westminster, where Weights and Measures were
stamped-without any test or standard of their troth
or propriety being applied to them, mid from no other
actual consideration but' the: fees received for' such
stamps. Deficient weightilmid.expressly teen framed,
and sent to the Office of which he spoke, for the mere
purpose of trying the practice which was said to pre-
vail, and they accordingly, without a scale or mea-
sure, or any other recommendation than the fees, re-
ceived the authentic stamp 'of office. The 'perilous
condition to which shopkeepers of all lands were re-'
(Need, who might rely en the stamp of such an office,
must be obvious. It was observed on a former occa-
sion, that there Was a want of accuracy in the witnesses
before the Committee in another House. Mr. Playfair
and Dr. Woollaston were at variance in their several
reports: But the cause of their difference was, that
the metres by which they judged were inaccurately,
and differently formed. His objtct was to address
the Crown for the appointment of persons of adequate
knowledge and known science, including Lawyers if
necessary, selected from both Houses of Parliament.—
would wish. that among die Peers those which
might be Selected from Ireland and Scotland; as well
as from tile English list, Weald find place. Without
presuMing to dictate, he would suggest among the
Irish Peers the Earl of Ross, and among the Scotch
'Met arl of Aberdeen. 'He would, among the emi:
upnt philosophers of whom the country could justly'
'bouts Otention Dr. Hutton' and. Dr. Wbollasten.
was. not the less inclined to associate those satin
104 act ur of their luiding opintan, soli*** at
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