Star.
London, England, 1803-04-30 00:00:00

MAIMING ♦MD WOUNIMIG SILL..

The Honk then rafolved into a Committee an the BM for
the better regulation of the Law with retpetit tocertain capital
offences. acc. and Lord WA Lsa pro II A AI having taken the Chair,
a variety of verbal amendments were int de in different parts of
the Bill, on the fuggcltion of Lord EL L INIOIOUGII, who AP
propofed tome additional Ciente', whkb were agreed to by the
Committee.

The Houk refuming, the Report was received and agreed
to, after which Lord E LLLLLLL ouu• movoi that the Bill be
printed.
Lord ALVANLVY took the opportunity to obferve, that b•
conceived the recent proceeding• with raped to the Bill, to pe
merely of a fres fiesta nature. Did he regard it in any other
light, the provirione of the Bill appeared to be of fuels an ino.
portato 'mare, and cfpecially a' there were new Havre. intro-
duced. that he should certainly have troubled their Lordthipo
with his opinion open them. He thought the Bill Mould be re.
committed. _ .

Lord Eitainuaouon In r py, °braved, dig it "Pis with
a cts- tamable their Lordfbirs to give the Bill the molt faints
anti deliberate canfideradon, that be mond to have the BS
printed. and that It nt ty lie fume time before the limit ; it was
untionbuilly Ate intention to move to haft the Bill it-commits
ted, h-t that could regularly he done only after it had beta
primal with th- amendments. Hr was always ready to beer
fit by the correlation of the Noble I ord. but it appeared, asp
herb agreed u to the proper line of proceeding. they only die-
fircid a. to the time of formally moving with rcfpon to thymus,
The Bill with theme:admin. was ordered then to be printed.
The commitment of the Ida Chalking Bill was, on the feet.
pflion of Lord E it t s Roanuoli. ft ether defarcd till that der
amok after which their Latazipe 4astant. LTarearee,

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

IN CONTINUATION FROM THE PRECEDING PAGE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FKIDAY, APRIL 29.

The bill (or improvirs the harbour of Briftol was read a Brit
time.

Mr•JORNSTON e brought up a Petition, complaining of an
undue elation 4nd return of Charles Brooke, Efq. for the Bo •
cough of llchefler, which being read—
He move i, •Itat the tink for entering into the recognizance
be enlarged, on at-cot:lit of Mr. I. Mat.ners's ill Rate of health.
—After earug Mr. Walker, the Apothecary, who attends
Wr. Mann,. rs. the time was enlarged 3o days.
The Bill for improving the Harbour of Dyfart, in the County
of Fife, was rt ad ahrft time.
. . . .

'l'helttrort on the Coroners' Bill was ordered to be received
on Monday.
In a Committee on the Lunatics Eltate Bill, the Sot.tet•ro■
GENERAL propofed, that the Bill, with the alterations, Ihould
be printed ; the Houle was refunied, the Report received, and
ordered to he takeu into further confideration this day fe'nnight
and prirted.
Mr. ALEXANDER brought up the Report of the Committee,
and moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable the India Com •
pany to raife motley for defraying the espences railing a cer-
tain number of Volunteert. Granted. _ _

Mr.!. H. BROWN e breught up a Petition from the Freehol- !
der% and Burgeffes of Nottingham, Rating the expediency of
the Bill now pending relative to Eleetions,and praying that the I
fame may pats into a law. Ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Fox prefented a Petition from certain other Freeholders
and Burgeffes of the raid town of Nottingham, agalntt the raid
Bill. He laid, that had the Burgeffes been aware of the Bill
fooner, it would have been ligned by many more, at prefent
there were not above 4000 names to it. (if levi.) Ordered
to lie on the table.
Mr. H. LA SCE LLe s brought up a Petition from the Wool.
len Clothiers in Yorkthire, agaitift part of a Bill now pending,
and praying to be beard by Counfel. Ordered to be referred
to a Committee.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ELECTION.

Mr. JoHN FANS reported, from the Committee
appointed to try the merits of the Dublin Univer-
fity Eleaion, that the Hon. Geo. Knox is duly
eletled ; and that the Petition of Dr. Plunket was
not frivolous or vexatious.
NOTTINGHAM JUSTICES BILL

Mr. I. H. BROWNS moved the order of the day
for the fecond reading of the Nottingham lattices
Bill, which being read, Counfel was ordered to be
called in, and Mr. Serjeant Lens appeared at the
Bar of the Houfe on behalf of the Mayor and

Corporation, againfl the Bill. The Learned Ser-
jeant argued at fome length on the fubjed, and
when he had finifhed, he was told he might with-
draw. As (non as he had done fo—

Mr. I. H. BROWNE, the Chairman of the Sete&
Committee, and mover of the Bill, role and re-
marked on the obfervations made by the Learned
Counfel. He raid, the Learned Gentleman had
argued, that if the Magidrates Were guilty, they
might be punifhed. This was very true ; but the
Committee had not charged the Magiftrates with
guilt—their lenity would not permit them to at-
tach that degree of criminality to their conduft—
they had only charged them with what was very
apparent from the evidence, not having exerted
that authority which the law had put into their
hands, in order to prevent riotous proceedings,
which they had fuffered to go on in favour of their
favourite popular Member—and with another fpe-
cies of criminality, diet of fuffering the peace, of
which they were the guardians, to be violated and
broken. The evidence produced before the Com-
mittee, and which was partly forced on them,
(hewed that great riots and tumults had prevailed
in that place, when Candidates were favourites of
the Corporation, not only at that elation, but at
all others which had preceded it. If franchifes
were given to any particular place, or any parti-
cular let of men, they were granted for public
good, and not for private advantage ; and when
they were perverted to ends and purpofes for which
they were never intended, it was high time fame
remedy fhould be applied to the mifchiefs to which
they were made rubfervieat. He argued at fome
length on the great power which the granting of
licences gives to Magiflrates in eleftions, efpecially
in a place like Nottingham, which war very po-
pulous, and contained not lefs than 30,000 inha-
bitants, who, in fuch large and populous towns,
Were always prone to riots and diforders, and
heeded a let of vigilant, aftive, and zealous Ma-
giftrates, anxious to promote and preferve the
public peace, and at all times to fupprefs diforder-
ly proceedings, from whatever quarter, or on
whatever behalf they might proceed. A pam-
phlet, he laid, had been fent to him, (hewing that
the oppofite party to them had, in the years 1793,
3794, and 5795, committed the greatelt riots, and
moll violent outrages, on the property and perfons
of thole whom they called Republicans, whenever
what they called good news arrived, which they
fuppofed the Republicans did not like to hear of,
and thole Magifirates flood by, and never attempt-
td to flop them. No man, he Paid, felt more
warmly than himfelf the arrival of intelligence
during the war, which announced the fiiperior cou-
rage and intrepidity of our gallant feamen or fol.
diers ; but then he fhould be very lorry to fee or
bear that any man, or body of men, lhould fuffer
in their perfons or property, in defiance, and
in breach of the laws, becaufe they were filed
Republicans, or entertained different political opi-
nions from himfelf. Whether the Magifirates did
this from any negleft of duty, or that they found
their power unequal to the putting a (lop to fuch
Blameful and illegal proceedings, and were there-
fore altuated by timidity, he would not pretend to
fay ; it teemed to him, however, very clear, that
the Magiftrates have loft their authority, and that
it was highly expedient the Bill he had the honour
to prefent to the Houk, to remedy this, fliould pats
as loon as p efpecially as the Houle had
agreed to four of the Refolutions of the Com-
mittee, and bad dete; mined that no reu writ (humid
due Fir Nottingham, till either the prcfent Bill
Mould pars into a law, or that fome effettual rnea-
lure he adopted to preferve in future the freedom
of Eleo ion in that :own. lie therefore thought
it his dt.t y to move, that the Bill be committed tr.,
a Cunin.iti t e of the while I Inure, and the} the raid
Committee take place on Monday next.
Mr. A NDF a sot. admitted that misioncinfl was very
evident in the government of Notting-
ham; but esprelfed his apprehculii n that the MCA-
bite before the Houk would, by inveliing the Lc-
. , . ,
with the power of app, . ',mg ithwitrates,
iuttricre with the flame of the A ;Li) of ;luny

VIII. cap. 27, which confined that power folely
to the Crown.

Mr. Fox, in terms of uncommon force and ani-
mation, entered into a defence of the condo& cf
the Nottingham Magiftracy, and replied to the in-
finuations thrown out againft them. He protefted
againft the ufe of the word "lenity" as applied to
thole Gentlemen—it was infulting and unjuft.—
They were ready to anfwer any charges that could
be brought forward. They defired to know the
nature of their guilt, if any could be alledged, and
the degree to which they were guilty ! But this
was not done. They were not to be taken before
any legal tribunal, but they were to fufFer from a
kind of punifhment which excluded trial and de-
-1 fence. Did they requeft not to be profecuted ?
No. Did they try to elude legal punifhment ?
No. 'Why then talk of lenity ? Thofe refpeCtable
Magiftrates were thus flandered by implication.
and without any fpecific evidence, in the minutes
of the Committee, or even in the words of their
refolutions, to junify it. He wifhed that the in-
veftigation of their charafter fhould be left to the
laws, that if they negletted their duty they fhould
I he brought to the bar of the Court of King's
Bench ; but that they fhould not he attacked in
the (month and lenient ftyle in which fome gentle-
men had dealt ; that fuch a mode of punithment
fhould not be inflicted upon them. It was the duty
of the Committee to have afcertained and Rated
I the degree of guilt which attached to the magic=
tracy ; it fhould not have expreffed any doubt on
the fubjea. The Hon. Member who was Chair.
man of that Committee had, indeed, Rated that
many Members of that Committee were of opinion
that the meafure now before the Houle was too
lenient with refpea to the magiftracy—of this
equivocal mode of conveying an imputation on
the charatiers of refpeaable men he highly dif-
approved. The Committee fhould have fully ex-
plained their fentiments ; and the Hon. Gentleman
in Rating the opinion of fome of his colleagues as
i• to lenity, ought alfo to have Rated the grounds of
I that opinion, for certainly nothing appeared in the
' evidence to junify it. No hints of this kind, tending
to injure the reputation of men, ought to be fent
abroad. The juftice and dignity of Parliament
fbotild forbid it. He would challenge any Gen-
tleman to point out that part of the evidence be.
fore the Committee which could in the lean de-
gree ezeufe it. He would only of c of Gentle-
men to take a full and candid review of the con.
duff of the Magiftrates of Nottingham for fume
years back. It was perfealy true that they had
in many inflances, like prudent men, yielded to
fome inconveniences, rather than by refinance ex-
pole themfelves to Rill greater. There exilted in
this town, two parties exceedingly holiile to each
other. They called each other by different names,
as one party will not hefitate to apply any odious
epithet to its adveifary ; but the generally under.
Rood diftinaion was the old Whigs and the Tories.
The latter party, favourable to the views of Go-
vernment, has been in the habit of abufing and ca-
lumniating all its opponents, and particularly the
Corporation of the Town, the individuals of which
they never ceafed to infult. The houfe and mills
of Mr. Davifon, a molt refpeaable gentleman,
whom he had the honour to know, were attacked;
fo were the houfe and perfon of Mr. Oldknow ; and
they were obliged to endure it. The power of
Government was not with them. Thofe riots,
however, provoked no Legiflative interference.—
The impotent Corporation was left to fuller. There
was no party fpirit to induce any Bill for their
protection; but, in the year 18ox, a preffing ne-
ceffity for this important innovation on an old
charter, is found to exift, in order, as it is pro-
feffed, to fecure the freedom of Election. Recur-
I ring, however, to the attacks on Mr. Davifon and
Mr. Oldknow, though they conceded much to the
prevailing fury of the fpitit which then over-ran
the country, and which bore down fo many great
and good men, they were not quite paffive—they
ventured to profecute one of the rioters, who, if
fill in Nottingham, was no doubt a fubfcriber w
the Petition juft prefented by the Hon. Member on
the other fide ; but he hoped he was not to be one
of the Magiftrates under this Bill. (A laugh.)—
He cautioned the Houle to beware of the nature
of this Bill, which went to eflablifh a precedent
for the invafion of ancient charters—to take from
the people the appointment of their Magiftrates.
It was not a meafure•merely drawn to meet and
reprefs riots; but to give to magiftrates appointed
by the Crown a concurrent jurifdiaion with that
of the Corporation; and for the purpofe, ton, of
giving a triumph to that party in the town which
had never been found backward in rioting. This
was the fire cafe in which a popular tumult in any r
Corporation Town was made a pretence for in-
vading the privileges of that Corporation. We
had heard of riots at the eleftions of Norwich and
Coventry, and yet it never occurred to any one to
propofe, that the magiftrates of Warwickfhire or
Nor folk thould have any jurifdiaion in thole towns.
When the riots of London, in 1780, occurred, and
Co much alarmed the country, no one ever fug-
gelled, though the maginracy of the City were in
that inflance culpablynegligent of their duty, that
therefore the maginracy ofididdlefex fhould have
any concern in the municipal government of Lon-
don. The Houle had alfo, no doubt, in recollec-
tion, that the moft difgraceful riots had occurred
at Birmingham, which was not, to be lure, a cor-
porate town ; but he quoted it in order to remark,
that though filch outrages were then committed on
fome of the molt enlightened and Oat men this
country had ever feen, as ferved to fix a ftigma on
the nation, yet no lii ong remedy was propofed. no
redrefs was granted to the (offerers. On the con•
tray, even an enquiry into the caufe of the diflut
ances was prevented. So much for the impartcil fo-
licittide which fume Gentlemen felt to preferve the
peace of the country. One of the arguments
which the Honourable mover advanced for this
lid! was, that Nottingham contained 30,003 peo•
ple ; and v. as not London, he would afk, a pnpu-
Inns city, and was it to be faid that becaufe a town
was popukus, it was good to transfer the Govern.
mutt of it to the Magiftrates appointed by the
Crown ? Another argument of the Honourable
Gentleman arofe not of his profened anxiety to re
*tore to the people of Nottingham the tight of re.

turning a Reprefentative to that Houfe ; but why
poltpone it fo long ? the reftoration to a man of
what he had no right to lofe, is Rill robbery. This
detention of the right is, however, attempted to be
excufed by the affertion of the Hon. Gentleman,
that the Magiltrates were unable to preferve the
general police of the town ; but in oppofition to
that affertion, he would quote the declaration of
two of the Judges (Naires and Mac Donne!) which
was highly complimentary to the fyftem of the
Magi Rracy, and to the good order and regularity
which prevailed under their government. As ano-
ther proof of the police of this town, he would re-
fer to the calendar of offenders tried at their af-
fixes t—he would a& any of the Judges who have
gone that circuit for the laft ten years, whether
they know of any town where a fmaller number of
crimes have been committed ? This, he thought,
would very fatisfaltorily (hew the Rate of the town,
and he took the period of ten years for the corn-
parifon, as it was the period referred to in the ac-'
cufation. Though during that fpace of time this
town was to be found under the government of
forte of the molt enlightened men in the country,
they, notwithtlanding their virtue and their talents,
were condemned to !offer from popular fury more
feverely, perhaps, than the members of any other
party ; but yet things went on as fmoothly as in
other towns agitated by oppofite political parties,
until the late elation, when two candidates ap-
peared, and if the Sheriff had immediately return.
ed them, or rather if Mr. Coke had not delayed in
order to regitter fume freemen, the Houfe would
have heard nothing of this bill, to prove the necef-
fity of which In many years diforder are now re-
ferred to. It is raid that the Magiltrates did not
give a due oppofition to the riots which took place
during the elation ; but he would call upon their
accufers, what did they neglect -to do, and hew
were they to blame ? for it did not appear in the
minutes of the Committee that they were in any
inflance culpable, though fume Gentlemen were
now fo forward to condemn them and to infult
their feelings with the affectation of lenity. Did
they refute to do any thing which the friends of
Mr. Coke requefted ? No ; except that of calling
in the military to furround the booth, not to fecure
the freedom of elation, but to dictate to the elec-
. tors. Was this their only crime I—was this the
caufe of the reproaches they met with ? If fo,
why not avow it ? Let them be charged with re-
jecting the application to make it a military elec-
tion, and try the event ; but don't let them be thus
hardly dealt with ; don't let them be the victims of
loofe, indefinite accufations. They were a body
of Gentlemen entitled to relpeCtful confideration;
fome of them he had the honour to know, and
very highly refpated ; for all of them he felt
that interelt which he ever fhould for men un•
juftly attacked. He repeated his wifh, that if the
Magiltrates were Guilty, they fhould be tried and
punifhed, and his opinion was that no bill (tumid
be brought in to wink at their guilt. Their guilt',
fhould not be made the ground for this bill, and
if they were innocent, the BM was unjuitifiable•—
What remedy could be derived from the inter-
ference of County Ma;iftrates in cafe of riots
What means could they employ different from, or
better than thofe in the power of the corporation ?
Was it ruppored the mere increafe of the number
of Magiltrates would answer; or was it propof-
ed to call in the Hi ceraitatut of the county
to preferve the peace ? Of this he could not ap-
prove, but the bill, however, would be much lets
objectionable if it authorifed the interference of
county Magiltrates only in cafe of riots. It did not
follow that becaufe on loch occafions their affillance
might be neceffary, that therefore they were to
participate in the whole municipal jurirdiaion of
the town. This would be a deviation from the old
eftablithed policy of this country ; for it would
enable the Magiltrates of ihe King's appointment
to rule over the Magiftrates of the People's elec-
tion. It would be extending that dangerous power
of the Crown—dangerous he would call it, and
the hiftory of the nation had (hewn the danger of
it, for the firft attack of all thole who meditated
the fubverfion of Briti(b liberty was upon corpo-
rate towns, upon thofe charters which formed the
belt fecurity of popular rights and the molt effec-
tual controul on Minifterial power—Nottingham
was about to lore its privileges for ezercifing its
controul. The independent fpirit of its Corpora-
tion was to be the caufe of that privation. It was
mockery to attribute it to riots; for riots had hap-
pened in almolt every corporate town ; and was
that to be received as a reafon for invading char-
ters ? Was it to be (aid, 4, becaufe the peace of
your town has been difturbed by an elation riot;
I your corporate rights (hall be done away, and we
(hall give the Government of your town to the
King's Magiltrates?" Such was the language of
the Bill before the Houk. He had heard that at
the end of the halt century a pamphlet was publifh
ed. entitled "a (port way to the diffenters ;" and
that he thought would be a very fit title to this
I Bill ; for it certainly was a very fhort way to get
I at the diffenters of Nottingham and to take away
their rights. The provifions of this Bill, he again
obferved, would not be quite fo bad if they ap-
plied to rights only ; if they were confined to that,
1 yielding to bad times and to bad principles, he
perhaps, though he would not like it, might not
oppore it ; but in its prefent fhape it was utterly in-
confiftent with his ideas of juflice or conftitutional
freedom. He declared that he felt every rape&
due to the Committee, but could not help (Merv.
ing that their refolutions were very look ; they
ought to have been more decifive. If men deferved
cenfure in fuel) a cafe, they ought to pronounce it
Rrongly. Their proceedings fhould not be fo
doubtful, particularly when the charafters of men
were concerned on the one hand, and tire free-
dom of elation on the other. He was ready to
confers that he had his prejudices on this occafion,
and that he always was dilpoled to take up a pre-
judice in favour of perfons cpmniated. He knew
that to be the fad with refpeft to thole Gentlemen.
—He knew that a number of idle ftories had been
propagated refpating them, and the proceedings
of the late elation, among which was, that a naked
woman was, in the courfe of that elation, led in
procellion through the town, as the Goddefs of
Realon. This talc had ((mad its way into newri.a.

pers and pamphlets, and a Learned Friend of his,
whom he much refpeaed (Mr. Pigot) was even
perfuaded to mention it in his opening before the
Committee, though not a particle of evidence was
adduced to prove it ; and though when it was of.
fered by Mr. Birch's Coonfel to prove that no fuch
thing took place, the Chairman declared there was
no neceffity, as noMember of the Committee had the
flighted belief of it; yet this fabrication is Rill re.
peated, and it fully ferved to betray the falfehood
and virulence of the fpirits which had circulated
fo many reports refpeaing Nottingham. This he
thought fufficient to warrant the prejedices he en.
tertained againft the Ratements generally made
with regard to thofe Magiarates. He alfo thought
it of fuch a nature as fhould urge the Houle to be.
ware of grounding a legillative meafuie upon fuch
rumours ; and, above all, taking power out of the
hands of refpdtable men, who enjoyed it under
an ancient charter, and transferring it to the awn
by whom thofe calumnies had been fpread.
Mr. BOND Paid he was of an opinion diarnetri.
cally oppofite to that of the laft Hon Speaker, and
would maintain the principle that all magiftrates
nominated by the Crown were eonftitutionally
created. The difcreet and learned Connie', who
was heard againft the Bill at the Bar, fet out with
all the caution that was neceffary for fuel' a tank
as that he was engaged in. He attempted to call
no witneffes, though he was entitled to do fo but
argued, that the Bill itfelf was too wide for the
ground laid down in the preamble. As a Mem-
ber of the Committee, he hoped to be indulged in
Rating his reafons for the fupport he meant to give
to this Bill, which holdr forth, in the language of
one Hon. Gentleman ( Mr. Fox) an ;narking lenity
to the magiftrates of Nottingham. He freely ac.
knowledged that any Gentleman, in glancing over
the voluminous mafs of evidence given before the
Committee, might, from detached parts, find cir-
cumftances to juftify him in &yin the Mayor of
Nottingham was deferring of praife ; but let him
read the whole of it, and it would be ltrange if he
would not find himfelf compelled to draw diffe.
rent conclufion or elfe he mull have fome mod:
of which he, (Mr. Bond), neither poffelfed nor
envied. The magiftrates, in his opinion, and up-
on which he fhould not fear to Rake what reputa-
tion he had as a lawyer, were criminally anfwer-
able for their neglect ; at the fame time that
there were circumflances of extenuation which
would give preference to a snore lenient remedy.
—On this ground, he and the advocates of the
Bill, were anxious and Itudious to feparate the
queftion of guilt from the meafure which they
propofed to be adopted. As to the juftice of
the cafe, he contended, that it was not to be dif.
puted : this was not an invafion of any exifting right;
for as the right of judicature was not given to any
man for himfelf, but fro orfiori galersatore, the con-
fining or extending that right did not increafe nor
dianinifh the value of it to any individual. It could
not be denied that riots at Nottingham during
eleaions,confidered as matters of prefcription were,
" Than which the memory of man reacheth not
farther." They teemed to be juffified on the fame
principle, that a cook was Paid to have repelled the
reproach of &inning eels, by [eying, rhry were arfd
to is. They were the general courfe at actions
there of all kinds. The practice of haseerky, or
cutting off the fkirts of the coats of perfons voting
for the unpopular candidate, took its rife at the
elation of a Common Councilman, in the fame way
as a fcene of impious violence was exhibited in a
church at the ele6ion of a Churchwarden. With
regard to the compliments Paid to be paid by the
Judges, he would only Rate, that one Judge was
fo difgu fled and offended at a riot, that he deter-
mined never to go that circuit again ; and another
having complained to a fheriff, that there was a
tumult in the Court, and being mildly anfwered by
that Magiftrate, that he had no power to fupprefs
it, declared, that if tranquillity was not reftored in
five minutes, he would then immediately quit the
town, and reprefent the proceedings in London.--
For once the menace was effeaual, the Magiftrates
interfered ferioufly, and tranquillity was reftored.
He totally difapprovcd of the idea of confining the
interference of County Magiflrates to the time of
riots only. No one could think of accepting fuck
an office, nor could he conceive a much greater of-
fence could be given to a Gentleman, than to de.
fire him to take out a dam: jelfgalars, and tell
him at the fame time that he was not to exercife
the authority of a Magiftrate, except it became
ceffary to thrall his head into a riot. The prefect
Magiftrates had powers which enabled them great.
ly to countenance riots, by giving licenfes to ale-
houfes, which were made netts in which riots and
turbulence were nourifhed. This bill would take
away nothing from the prclbnt Magißracy, but,
on the contrary, pour frefh fatal blood into a dif-
eared carcafe.

Mr. Moots (of Coventry), in a maiden fpeeck
declared his conviction that the Mogi(trate:, men-
tioned in the report by the Committee, were ex.
tremely deficient in their duty, and worthy of ex.
emplary puniffiment. The tubjeCt was one which
he had tome means of underitanding with tome
degree of accuracy, and he had no difficulty in
Paying, after a careful examination of the evidence.
that the Magiftrates had not ufed effectual means
for the prefervation of the peace of the town.—
Whether the Magifirates had failed in preferving
the tranquillity of the town from want of inclina-
tion, or want of ability, he did not think the Bill
afforded a proper remedy. If they were, as the
Hon. and Learned Gentleman had defcribed, a
dormant Magiltracy, then the law ought to be let
loofe on them. If they were criminally inactive
they ought to be removed from their office. He
wiflaed individuals to be punilhed, but was an
enemy to any encroachments on the Connitution.
He was, therefore, an enemy to the Bill. The
Hun. Member illatrated thefe points in a forcible
manner.

Mr. FRANK LAND fpoke in favour of a quick
(hellion, in order that Nottingham (bould remain
di little longer unreprefented as poilible. This he
L id would be impeded by the delay of invelligation
And trial.

Mr. Guy replied to many of the obferyations
of Mr. Bond, and remarked on the incontinency of
hating at &Li that be winked to feparate the guilt

of the Magiflrates from the meaffire, and after—
wards chat ging them with exerciting their powers
of licenting public•holifes, in fuch a manner as
that each of them might be turned into a focus of
fedition or rebellion. (David of lenity, he con-
cluded the prelint to be a bill of pains and penal-
ties, and the disfranchifernent of the Corporation
of Nottingham as a very feriouspunilhment infliaed
without a trial. True lenity Ihould have a re-
fcrence to the lituation and feelings of the parties;
but thtle Magillrates did not come here begging
for mercy and to he (pared, but demanding julhice,
and atking to be tried. He concluded by flrongly
eiriorcing lonic of the arguments before employed
by Mr. Fox.
Mr. BOND explained. He raid he had not
brought a charge againa the Magillrates for li-
cenling ale-hotifcs improperly. If he had fpoken
of the atrocities in Leland,and then have gone on
in the fpirit of Anticlimax to (tate the circumliances
of cutting off the skirts of coats, he Ihould have
deferved the obfervations of the Hon. Gentleman
who bad lath fat down. He had certainly remarked
that there had been exhibited a fcene of molt im-
pious indecency.
Mr. GREY laid a few .words in explanation, and
was replied to by Mr. BOND.
Mr. Rost obferved, that after the convincing
and able (perch of the Hon. Gentleman on the
floor (Mr. Bond), he was perfefhly fatisfied of the
propriety of the Bill ; be had never heard a more
fatisfaaory fpeech on any firbjeet. He juftified the
Seleti Committee in taking notice of the proceed.
ings of former eleainns, becaufe thole proceedings
bad been firli brought forward by the Magifirates.
He obferved, that the only inflance of any trial for
a riot at an elation, in the courfe of the !aft century,
was at Nottingham. Upon an impartial perufal
of the minutes, he thought the account of the
proceflion was overftated. If, however, the God-
defs of Reafon had not been introduced, there were
other proceedings which were not very creditable
to thole who had promoted them. It appeared
the perfons who formed part of the proceffion
(sing the Marfeillois Hymn and Millions be Free.
There bad been no intiance of a perfon doing any
thing offenfive to the populace for the lath ten years,
but it was immediately Paid, " I will fend punch
to you ;" and this threat was followed up by
dellroying his furniture, burning his hay flacks,
and committing injuries in the night. There was
not a perfon who had been ill treated during the
late elation, but had been put in danger of his life.
He was latisfied the Magifirates of Nottingham
had not countenanced the riotous proceedings
which had taken place, but certainly they had not
done their utmolt to prevent them. He thought,
therefore, there could be no juft grounds of ob-
jation to the Bill.
Mr. Fox role to explain. He maintained that
he had Paid die judges had commended the town
of Nottingham for its general good condua and
government, with the exception of thofe partial
riots which occationally took place in every part
of the kingdom. An Hon. Gentleman had threat-
ened, that if this Bill was thrown out, other
meafures would be Liken. The Magiftrates of
Nottingham challenged loch proceedings; they
were desirous a full inveffigation of their condos
might take place. They were not to he deterred
by loch threats from doing their duty as Bridal
fubjetas,by oppofing fuch a violation of their right'.
Sir WILLIAM GEARY was of opinion it would
be attended with advantageous confequences for
the Magilbates of the town, to have the affiftance
of the county Magiftrates to co-operate with them.
With the amendment propofed, he was anxious the
Bill mould pals.
Mr. I. H. Banwsa wifbed to reply, hut the
Speaker informed him, that upon the difctalion of
a common order of the Houle, fuch a privilege
was unufual.

Strangers were ordered to withdraw, but the
oppofition to the motion was withdrawn, and the
commitment of the Bill for Monday next wasagreed
to without a divifion.—Adjourned till Monday.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30.
PRICE OP STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK s
3 per Cent. Reduced 631.
3 Per C. Coot 64 Seis 631, 64—far see. 64.
• Old 5 per Cent. 991-11.
PRICE OF S LOCKS YESTERDAY!
Rusk Steels r7S Spa Cent 1797. 9919E1
3 per Cent. Red. 6r 64111 Long Ann. scsii
3 per C. Conf 63i i Short Ann. 4 t-s 6
New 4 per Cent. Brl* Conf. for May, 66 65111
5 per Ct. Ann. scot too
DUBLIN, APRIL 16.
3 per Cent. Government Debentures, 9711 9$
Courfc of Exchange—Dublin on London z 3.

Before the clofe of the Market yefterday the 3 per
cents. which at one time of the day were as high
as 66, fell to 64. Various reafons were affigned
for this. A Meffage of an unfatisfadory nature
was to be communicated in the evening to Parlia-
ment ! Mr. PITT was inflantly to return to Office
—war, therefore, was inevitable! ! And Advice'
c f an unpleafAnt nature had been received from
Paris!!!

Letters from the Continent, by the Mails of
yeflerday Rate, that a difference has arifen between
Ruflia and Sweden, and the former has ordered
lonic military preparations to be made. The caufe,
however, is of the moil frivolous kind, whether an
old ruinous bridge (hall be marked with the trifig-
nia of Sweden, or as a joint property of Sweden
and Rata ? It is not likely that any thing lesions
can arife from fuck a caufe, particularly at a mo-
ment when there is nothing in the c!:arader of the
Sovereigns of Raffia and Sweden, or of their Mi-
nift,..rs, that fhould lead us to think that they Peek
a pretence to quarrel.
Letters from Vknna sate that it will be the
bufinefs of the Aulirian Cabinet, as well as of the
principal powers of the Continent, to prefer ve peace
and to ufe their mediation for that purpofe. It has

never been afcettained what connettionthe opinions
of other Courts may have with the difcuiTions he.
tweet-, this Country and France. It is probable
that they were only made acquainted with the
difpute in as far as they had been requefted to a&
as guarantees of Malta, without being at all called
upon to mediate. We fhould not be furprized that
BONAPARTE prevailed on them to interpofe their
good offices, merely to embarrafs the Britifh Cabinet.
We are forty to announce, that the town of
Pofen, in Poland, has been nearly reduced to allies.
On the 15th inftant, in the afternoon, a fire broke
out in the Jews quarter, which confumed the fame
with the Synagogue, many other ftreets in the
neighbourhood, the Dominican Church, &c. At
the departure of the poll the fire kill continued:
283 houfes are burnt The damage is incalculable.
Molt of the fufferers have caved nothing.

Prince WILLIAM of GLOUCESTER left Brunfwick
on the t9th, for 1-I..lberiladt, to be prefent at the
review of the regiment lying there.

Some accounts hate that the Arabian Chief has
been defeated and his troops difperfed. We know,
however, that but little reliance can be placed on
Turkifh accounts of vhlories. How often they
boafted of advantages gained over the French af-
ter their landing in Egypt, every one may recoi-
led ;—but it was referved to the Britifh to expel
them !

We have received Paris Journals to the 27th
infant inclufive, but they contain nothing of im-
portance. Letters from Befancon, dated the 2 zd,
Rate, that TOUSSAINT LOUVIRTURE, who was de.
tained in Fort de Jour, dud there about eight days
before that period !—Five per cents. 54 fr. 85 c.
Private Letters from Helvoetfluys, of the date
of the 27th intl. Rate, that an Aide_de-Camp of
General VICTOR had arrived there with authority
to demand that the le of Goree, and the Works
of Helvoet fhould be delivered up to the French
Troops, and that 40 pieces of Artillery fhould be
immediately mounted on the walls and works of
thefe polls. The Municipality were requefled to
cooperate with the French Adjutant in expediting
thefe objeds ; but if they did not chute to co.npe•
rate voluntarily, the French were to proceed by
force of arms. The Dutch made no refinance, but
the Municipality remonftrated, Rating, that they
could not ad without the authority of their Go.
vernment. The Mayor immediately repaired to
the Hague for orders. The condud of the Muni.
cipality was approved of, but all idea of refinance
to the imperious mandate of the French was aban-
boned, and it was expefted that an order would
be received on the 28th to withdraw the Dutch
Troops entirely from Helvoetfluys and Goree;
which Ifland had been already occupied by 350
French foldiers. They had likewife taken pair-
fion of the Brill.