Star.
London, England, 1817-03-28 00:00:00

SILK TRADF.

Mr. P. MOORE presented a Petition from the
Weavers and others engaged in the Silk Trade at
Coventry, setting forth their si:stress, claiming the
protection of }hat House, and praying relief. The
lionourable Gentleman having moved that the Pad-
tion should lie on the table,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he had not 'only no objection to the Petition
ling laid on the table, but he could state to the
Honourable Member, the distress of the Silk Trade
was not thought unworthy of an inquiry. He, how-
ever, was not prepared to say his Majesty's Ministers
were disposed to ive them that strict monopoly by
the exclusion of foreign silks for which they prayed,
as he, for one, was inclined to think, if that which
they required were conceded, it would be no less in-
jurious to them in particular, than it would prove to
the general trade of the country.
Mr. BROUGHAM rejoiced to bear the opinions'
just expressed by the Right Honourable Gentleman,l
sad retaining those which be had recently submitted
to the Howe, he could not but think the wiser, snore
statesman-like, and safer course to take, would be
that whit!) he had recommended : to institute an in-
quiry, not into one branch of our commerce, but into
our general system, with a view to effect a revision
of the oriole. Unless this were dune, he did not see
that any particular part of it could be satisfactorily
disposed of. What the Right Honourable Gewleman
bad said of the injurious effects of a monopoly lilt.
that desired by the petitioners was undoubtedly true,
but at the same time he thought it right to observe,
the petitioners did not object to the raw material
coming into the country. Their cry, on-the con-
trary, was, a let us be allowed to purchase at a duty
of 2s. 6d. that material on which the French now
work, and we shall not fear their competition."

The CIIAKCILLOR of the EXCHEQUIR aad Mr.
Bttovonam severally explained ; and atter a few words
from Mr. P. Moons, the petition was ordered to lie
on the table.

ZICHIQUEIt COURT BILL.

Messengers ft om the Lords announced their Lord-
shipe< coacturence to the Exchequer Court Bill, with
several Amendments. •
On the Motion of Mr. MARTIN, these Amend-
ments were arced to.
weivEUSITY DRAWBACK.
On the Motion ut Lord A. HAMILTON, Ac-
counts Iwo ordered of the number and value of all
Books furnished by the Booksellers to the Universi.
ties QI 01144 d And Cambridge, during the last seven
Also A:cusuus of the amotol and number
ks on Piper, allowed to the said Book.
• • • •••• pert
OIPPBB TOXINS.

1:j Fr. ; ; I.w.rved a Bill r. ,c 1 bcrol brought
al .1. Me. b ?nr Stafford-

shire, for the purpose of putting a sibp to the circa
talon of Copper Local Tokens. He had, however,
to state, that many still passed current, and he wished
to know if it was the intention of the Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Lyttleton) again to calrthe atten-
tion of the House to this subject, with a •iew of
putting them completely down. He then read a let-
ter to the House, which described a quantity of base
and spurious copper to be still in circulation, and set
forth the importance of checking the evil.
Mr. LYTTLETON said, it was true, that in the
manufacturing districts, where the poor's rates were
high, large issues of copper tokens had taken place,
and certainly the evil was ore which loudly deman-
ded a'remedy. It was a strange fact, but of those
who had issued the enormous quantity of copper
which had been thrown into circulation two years
ago, not one individual was at present solvent, and
the local tokens were now selling at all the old cop-
per shops in the neighbourhood. If the Chancellor
of the Exchequer did not propose some measure to
correct the evil complained of, he had it in contem-
plation, after Easter, to move for leave to bring in a
Bill himself. •