Star.
London, England, 1819-06-08 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 7.
Th House met on the expiration of the Whit Recess, and
I w, to. heard at some length respecting the Scots Cause,
11 at r. Callai:der."—To proceed again on Wednesday.

Tie Duke of Gomm!: took the oaths and his seat.
r:rt Account% were presented from the Treasury and Mint
ti-pci.tiog the Caiinages agreed for with Mr. Bolton, of
14”. in?haot ; the Contracts entered into with that Gentleman ;
dtSe prke- of Mullion at different periods, pursuant to recent
ordt•r• of the Mitt.. - .

..,.„
'Pt, Fifteenth Report from the Commissioners of the Caledo- I
tiro Canal was presented, and ordered to be printed.
Sercr.il Private or Local Bills were brought up from the Corn-
Ens ay Mr. ILotrarON, Mr. 11Aovcy (of Norwich), and other
Ile Uteri, and read the first time.
Tao 1.411,,f DA RLING TON presented two Petitions, one I
two the Ship Ihs nets and others of the Town and Port of Sun-
ithin.l, a•.d the other from the City of Durham, against the
eel Duties lley,iilation Bill.
The Commitment of Dunn's Divorce Bill was postponed till
T.a.r:day.
Lirl GREY presented several Petition; from certain Prates-
Dii,enters in different places, praying for some relief on
MI ill with respect to the present form of the marriage
ce,nieny, as prescribed by the Established Church, as inconsist-
et wth those tenets and doctrines which they hold, &c. and
The Earl of A 1.11E,M A It LE presented one from certain Pro-
ztar.t assemers of the City of Norwich, nearly to the saint effect.
*rte Cotton Manufacturers' Bill was read the second time, on
'S:t,7,::ritanding that the discussion would take place on the next
r. ':h.' Committee), which was appointed for Monday neat.
l'ae Earl of DARN LEY, alter briefly referring to the papers
it. re the Ilcuse on the subject of the State of the Royal Navy,
%mein, intention, on Thursday, to submit a motion, founded
papers, and observed, that he should not occupy any
tc,. LIZc panio❑ of their Lordships' time on the occasion.
1••ar1 GREY moved to discharge the Order for summoning
t...-morrow on his proposed motion for the second
7 • 11 Bill now before their Lordships on the Repeal of
•rein Tot Acts. It was with reluctance he felt induced to
F•:Eone that motion ; which, however, he intended to bring
nod tdl ti;.• next open day. In which view, after the Order
discharged, he moved that the Lords be summoned for
75.12 y, V. hit h was ordered accordingly.
lh the motion of Lord AUCKLA NI), a Message was or-
to be sint to the Commons, desiring a Copy of the lie-
; t their Committee o❑ the subject of the insolvent Deb-
' Act.

L rd K EN YO:•:, after a few obserati-ms on what had taktn
re.pecting the We't Middlesex Water Works Lill, and
"v.r..;3,- a I'etition front a number of the Vestrymen and
pr.iyitg to he heard by their Coun,el against the
-.ony:A that the Bill lr2 re-committed, which, on the guts-
ordered accordingly.
Lordships ordered t%e proceeding to take place on
art: the l'etitioners to be heard by their Coun3el and

i!eju? for.
gti...lification Dill WAS read the third time, and

.r.o. Fso rEz;lt Y presented a Petition from cer-
.o,cribiti,; I.leztJrs ag..inst the Barnstaple Election 13th.
ih n: dine; Earl of C.kERNARVON, the Order
of the Barnstaple Election Ilia was post-
t t \'. doe

th.- LORD CHANCELLOR, and a
: i r.l-!.ii,, the second reading of the Dill on
-. .1‘•, W. 1% fixed for to morrocrse'nuight.
Li. I of L.% CDERDALE, the Order
tic L ,r.:td .Tadges, relative to certain
• .1 !0 ~11.1rti:tivd by his Lordship respeeting
po,roned till Friday.
vlirg ion the table being respectively for-
tied till to-morrow.

Sir J. SEBRIC HT presented a Petition from certain Drug-
gists in London, against the Bill for regulating the Sale of Poi-
sonous Drugs.—Read, and ordered to be referred to the Com-
mittee on the Bill.
Sir ROBERT WILSON said, he rose to present a Petition
to the House which related to a subject which was this day to
engage the attention of the Ikuse—the Financial State of the
Country. It was signed by Brassington, late of Warwick-
street, Golden-square, now of Peter-street, Westminster, and
contained a most affectint narrative of the distresses to which
b^ had been subjected, by the brutal conduct of the Collectors
of Taxes.—The l'etition described several scenes which had
been exhibited in his house at the time when executions were
sent into it by the officers of Taxes, to recover some trifling
arrears which were due from him. It stated, that one of these
had taken place when his wife was six months advanced in preg-
nancy. The alarm brought on her dreadful tits, which ter-
minated in an illness, which continued till the end of her preg-
nancy, when she was delivered of a dead child ; that he was
himself now a ruined man, and his family beggars. The Fed-
tioner further alleged, th•u the officer had presumed on the Pe-
titioners inability to seek legal redress, and said to him—" If
lon have no money to ray your taxes, you cannot get money to
ro to law." It sated in the next pLice, that all the Petitioner's
household furniture was carried off by the officer, with the ex-
ception of the bed on which his wife lay, while the Commissioner
of the Taxes on being remonstrated with as to the conduct of
his agent, replied only by wanton insolence. The Honourable
and Gallant Member then observed, that a system which could
sanction such proceedings was one of wanton cruelty ; and that
the Petitioner concluded with praying, that this heart-breaking
taxation might be reduced, while the best mode to effect it
would be, a change in the representation of the country.--The
gallant General went on to say that he had before declared that
he would not vote for fresh burdens to be placed on the People,
until those grievances were first redressed of which they solong,
so loudly, and so justly complained. The moat striking of the
public grievances was the state of the representation of that I
House. That the system of Representation was imperfect no
man would deny. There was no sympathy—no cOnfidence—be-
tween those who make, and those who are called upon to obey
the Law ! " I will not (continued the gallant General) consent
to place fresh burdens on the People at this melancholy moment,
when thousands of them are starving—when distress has tri-
uinphed over the first feelings of a British heart—the love of
country !—ar d when thousands are also asking us, as a favour, to
be sent into perpetual exile !—( Hear.)—No ! Sooner would I lay
my head on the block, than consent to place one additional
shilling on the country, or to lend my support, by saying Aye'
to the Resolutions about to be proposed by the Chancellor of
• the Exchequer !"
fbe Petition was brought up, and laid on the Table.
Sir J. NEWPORT presented the Second Report of the Com-
' mis4ioners on the State of Education in Ireland. Ordered to

lie on the table, and to be printed.
Sir G. CLERK presented a Petition from certain Traders in
Edinburgh and Leith, praying for an Alteration in the Distil-
lery LAY/S.—Read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Lott EBRINGTON presented a Petition from certain Uni-
tarian Dissenters in Devonshire, complaining of the Marriage
Act.—Read, add ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. HUME presented a Petition front the Burgesses of the
Royal Burgh of Cup praying fur a Reform in the Scots
Burghs.—ltead, and ordered to lie on the table.
A Petition was presented from the County of Forfar, com-
plaining of the Distillery Laws.—ltead, and ordered to lie on
the table.
The Bill for the Prevention of Contagious Diseases in Ire-
land, was read a third time and passed.
The Report of the Irish Church RAH Bill was taken into
further consideration.
Sir li. PARNELL said, that he understood there were
many objections to this Bill, and hoped that the further stages
would be postponed till next Session, to allow time for inquiry
for obtaining information.
Mr. L. FOSTER said, that the fullest time had already haen
given for Inquiry, and yet that the Honourable Baronet came
forward without any sufficient reasoti, and called for a delay till
the next Session. The truth was, that there was a very urgent
necesity for passing the Bill as soon as possible, inasmuch as the
greater part of the sums which it empowered to be raised had
been advanced by way of loan. He hoped it would nut be
thought a want of courtesy if he refused to accede to the request
for delay,
Sir .1. NEWPORT also wished for delay.
Mr. L FOSTER explained.
The Amendments were then agreed to, and the Bill ordered
to be read a third time on Wednesday next.
Mr. BEN NETT moved, that there be laid before the House
a Return of all the Officers and Men appointed to serve under
Captain llanchett in the Preventative Boat Service; front
April 1, 1316, till Ma:.:11 31, 1818. The Honourable Gentle-
man said, that he had read the documents furnished to him by
an lion. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Lushington) and he was
bound to say that they certainly contradicted the statement of
Captain ITacchett's Petition.
Mr. ABERCItobIBIE wished to know, whether it was in-
tended that the vacancy in the Court of Exchequer was in-
tended to be tilled up by the appointment of a new Baron?
Mr. CLIVE said he was not at all prepared to answer the
question.
N:r. ABERCROMBIE hoped that no step would be taken
to ftil up the vacancy, without giving an opportunity of calling
the attention of the House to the expediency of not hung up

the vacancy.
On the motion of Mt'. LUSIIINOTON, then was ordered
to be laid before the House an Account of all Taxes expired or
rtpealed since the termination of the war. The Papers were
then broaght up and ordered to be printed.
l'lt()Firs OF THE BANK.
Mr. GRFNFEI.I. said, be rose to give a r.otiees as to which
he was glad to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place.
It had been ust.al during the war to allow the Rank aalwitts
,upon every Loan, at the rate of about £KOO for every million
(borrowed. If it was intended that this should be coatinugd on,
the Loan now in contemplation, he gave notice that he would
take the sense of the House upon the propriety of withholding it.

Ireland. By that measure, the whole amount of the
Irisb•National Debt was thrown into the general
mass of the Debt of Great Britain. And here he
wished distinctly to state, that he did not mean to
say that Ireland had not, according to her ability,
borne her full proportion of the burden which was
cast upon the country by the war. At the time of
the Union between the two kingdoms, no man could
have thought, that for fourteen years, in am uninter-
rupted extent, there should have been a continuance
of the greatest war in which the country had ever
been engaged. Any man who could then have
known it must have been astonished at the amount
of the burdens which it would occasion—burdens of
such magnitude, that at the prospect of undergoing
them the stoutest heart must have been appalled.—
This observation was applicable to Great Britain as
well as to Ireland. When the enormous sums, which
it was necessary to raise by loan during the war,
were considered. every one must feel them .to be
such as it would have been impossible to calculate
upon beforehand. Whether with a view to the capa-
bilities of the country, all the arrangements•whsch
had been made were such as, upon a knowledge of
its resources, would have been most advisable, it was
now quite useless to inquire. But this much was
certainly known of the state of Ireland—that pre-
vious to 1798, when the disastrous civil war broke
forth, the taxes-in that country were so light, that it
would have seemed unfair to propose any addition to
the debt of that country, without providing a re-
venue for its liquidation. This, however, was not
the course pursued, and the consequence was that
while in Great Britain a great part of the supplies
were raised through the year, Ireland had recourse
to loans. This produced a very important difference
in the state of the debt of the two countries as accu-
mulated during the war. In the period which
elapsed between the Union of the two kingdoms, and
the consolidation of their Exchequers, the National
Debt of Great Britain had increased in a proportion
of four to seven, whilst that of Ireland-had increased
nearly eightfold, or in the proportion of fifteen to
ninety-two. The inevitable consequence of this
was, that the consolidation imposed a great addi-
tional charge on Great Britain. The amount of
this charge, as in the resolution, was £1,885,472. The
third resolution stated the amount of the supplies al-
ready voted or to be voted for this year at (20,503,0 3J.
The fourth stated the amount necessary for the sup
plies of the year which it would be necessary to raise
by loan ; and the fifth mentioned that the Sinking
Fund, applicable to the reduction of the debt in the
present year, might be estimated at about fifteen
millions and a half, a sum which exceeded that re
quired for the service of the year by about two mil-
lions. The next Resolution stated, that for the pur-
pose of supporting the public credit and providing
for the progressive reduction of the public debt, it
was expedient that a Sinking Fund of not less than
£5,000,000 should be provided; and this was fol-
lowed by a Resolution, that for this purpose the Re-
venue should be increased by the imposition of new
Tales to an amount of not less than £3,000,000.—
Stith was the general view presented by the state of
our finances uld the tneasures proposed with a view

Taxes, not then received, which amounted to a very
considerable sum: the other arose from the facility
(which the public convenience in other respects calla
ed for) of resorting to the Bank of England for an
advance of money. la 1815, the debt due by the
Public to the Bank was reduced to such a degree as
was thought necessary, for the purpose of allowing
the resumption of Cash Payments, without danger
or inconvenience to that establishment. But in 1816,
the Treasury having been then unavoidably drained
by the war, it was thought indispensible to resort to
the Bank, as affording the most convenient and the
most economical means of providing the sum which
was required to make up the supplies for that year.
The state of the country at that time made this mea-
sure the most advantageous that could be adopted ;
for it was then labouring under the want of circula-
tion. In such a state of things, the loan from the
Bank contributed to revive public confidence, and
afforded the means of considerable relief to the mer-.
candle interest. So strongly was this felt by Parlia-
ment at that time, that a million and a half of Ex-
chequer Bills was issued under its approbation ft r
the relief of this body of the community. Thus the
means which had been resorted to under the circum-
stances of the country at that time were not only
such as the Parliament had approved. but they seem=
ed to be the most advisable in every point of view,
whether they regarded immediate convenience, or
the effect upon the general financial system. But
the time was now come when the House was called
upon to decide upon a more permanent and systea
matic mode. It was stated in the filth Resolutions
that the. Sinking Fund exceeded the sum necessary td
be raised for the service of the year by about two
millions only. This statement was taken frota the
Returns of the Revenue in the two first quarters of
the year. But from the 11th Report of the Finance
Committee of last Session, and the first Report pre-
sented this Session, it would be found that in the first
year of peace there had been a very considerable defi-
ciency in the income, as compared with the expendi-
ture. In the year ending the sth January, 1817, the
expenditure was £51,2a0,(X)0, while the income was
only £51,300,000, leaving a deficiency of L:2;900,000:
This, however, seas made good by the arrears of the
War Taxes, which had not then been applied to the
public service. But if the Revenue had stood at
what it was in laid, there would have been a defi-
ciency of above three millions. In the following
year the deficiency was much less. In the year end-
ing sth January, 1818, the amount of expenditure
was 1-'52,.59!i,(XX), while the income wa5E52,320,a0 rs
leaving a deficiency of little more thank:6oo,ooM In
the year ending the sth of January, 1819, the ex-
penditure was above fifty-two miliions, and the in-
come somewhat above fifty-fur millions; leaving a
surplus of incotne beyond the expenditure of that
period, £1,680,000. For the current year the Fi-
naace Committee took a still more favourable view,
and estimated that there would be a surplus of
£1,900,609 beyond the expenditure. But he would
ask whether dd, was such a surplus as ought to be
required to place the country in the situatioa which
was requisite? Whether it could provide for such
an extinction of the public debt, as would enable the
Nation to meet any future emergency ? Whether it
could hold out to the Pablic at large the prospect of
speeiilv relieved from a part of their preseat
burdens? a surplus of nu more than two mil-
lions, it was dear that the country would be al•
under such restraint as would cramp its resout
'the improvement of the income to make it prod
a gre.aer surplus, must he reckoned amongst
measure, wi.ich wele of the strictest necessity.
arose from the importance and extent of its of
don. And first, with aNiCW to what was duet
public creditor, he knew no measure which a
more incumbent on the House to adopt. By tin
tern which was .adopted by Parliament in the
179'2, on the recommendation of Mr. Pitt,
proved, that for all debts to be ..i.itracted iu 1!