Star.
London, England, 1817-03-21 00:00:00

EXCH [QUER RILLS.

Oa the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Exoti-
cs= for the third reading of the Exchequer Dills Bill,
Mr. BARNETT said, he could nut refrain from
submitting to the Right Honourable Gentleman the
propriety of taking some stela, h
w_t_out delay, for
lowering the Unfunded Debt, which already amounted
to more than fifty millions. Nothing could 1)~ snore
adapted to the future welfare of the coun:ry, end the
interest of the Right Honour.ble Gendrman's suc-
cessors, unless he thought that he held his situation
in perpetuity. The Bank of England was the only
establishment that had not been at all reduced by the
peace, and they found it their interest to give every'
encouragement to the issue of Exchequer Bills, which
must ultimately prove detrimental to the real inte-
rests of the country.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
observed, if the Honourable Gentleman would take
the trouble to refer to the accounts before the House,
he would see that the amount of Exchequer Bills
outstanding was considerably less than it was two
years ago, and also much less than last year, with
the exception of the six millions voted to cover those
outstanding at a particular period. Mii,isrers were
now forming a diminution of interest on thcse Bills,
whieli could not be otherwise than highly advan-
tageous to the country. He tulry agreed with the
Honourable Gentleman, that the continued issue of
Exchequer Bills was not advisable; but the measure
was only intended to be temporary, and till the op-
portunity arrived of converting the unfunded into the
funded debt, which was approaching daily, it was
certainly most advantageous to proceed as we were
now doing.
Lord COCHRANE insisted, that this system of
Exchequer Bills was the real cause of the rise •in the
Funds, in consequence of the Bills being deposited in
the bards of the Bank, who issued their Notes to
Miuisters to enable them to go on aohile without a
Loan. 131 a this would ultimately be the tuin of the
public credit.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
replied, that it the Noale Lord would only take the'
trouble to inquire on the Stock Exchange—(Hsor,
hear, and lauglever)—he would find his opinion was
totally WrOki, and that Exchequer Bills were not so
depreciated. it was difficult to obtain Bank notes,
except at the price of gold.
Mr. BROUGHAM 'wished we could get from
this transition, as it was called, to some solid foun-
dation of finance. He had heard a report which lie
considered so important, that he could not refrain
from asking whether there was the smallest founda-
tion for it I which he earnstly hoped there was nut.
It was known, that the West India Dock Company
was bound, after their annual dividends amounted to
ten per cent. to divide no more, but to reduce the
' rates payable by the merchants. He need not say
that this Company held a sort of commercial mono-
poly, because that was well underitood. But one
should think, under the difficulties which trade at
present laboured, and when it was known that the
dividends of the- West India Dock Company had
reached ten per cent. long ago, that their dues should
e reduced. It ought to be so from the state of the
country ; but the report said, that instead of this,
Government is now about, long before the expiration
of the Charter, which was for 21 years, to renew
their lease and take a fine—that is, to take 500 or
£600,000 for the renewal of their Charter before it
bad expired; and this must come out of a fund
which should go to the diminution of the dues. If
this were true, it was an act to defraud the commerce
of the country. So monstrous a report, be hoped,
was altogether untousided.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
thought. that after hearing such a report, it was surely
the duty of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman
to inquire into its truth before tatting it for granted.
He could tell him that the report was utterly false.
kw, Iseer.) There had been ko such nego
elation on toot. Yet he would say, that it was right
en the part of Government and the Public to partici-
pate is these profits.
.But the fact was, that the West
India Dock Company bad actually reduced their
rates, which they were under the necessity oh asking
permission of the Treasury to do, as they were bound
to repay the money advanced Wore they could re-
duce their rates.

Mr. BROUGHAM replied, that after what had
trittopirea, it could riot be denied that there was some
ground fur' the report be bad mentioned.
Alter a few words from Sir CHANLka blost:a and
Alderman -A.l:lKtria. who hoped the House would

pause before they granted the renewal of the r
through any expectation of a bond, to the injut y
the Merchants, the Exchequer Bills Bill Wap read
third time and pasied.
The Committee on the Cape Wines gill w is post.
poned till Monday.
The Land Revenue Bill went through a Conin i!-
tee.—Keport to-morrow.
Mr. BROUGHAM, on moving for le ive to pie-
: sent • Petition from the Ward of Bishopsgate, playa
ing for a Reform in Parliament, took au opportunity
to entreat the House not to set their fine against such
Petitions, under the idea that they did net contain
the sense of the people, because it had been asserted
that such Petitions had been sent down to the coun-
t* ready prepared: Even if this were the case, it
was no more than what had taken place under the
auspices of Mr. Pitt and the Viike of Richmond,
when tfey were advocates for Reform. He did 'fee
mean to say that Mr. Pitt ever encouraged the pro.
position for Universal Suffrage ; for on this pteet tie
did not go so far as the Duke of Richmond ; but it
wls well known that they had a system of massulac..
turing Petitions, and sending them down to procure
signatures, and their success was owing to some such
sort of manufacture as was now scouted at being the
work of persons who wanted to overturn the Govern-
ment and effect a Revolution.
Mr. BANKES was sure that at no time of Mr.
Pitt's lite did he ever countenence the principle of
Universal Suffrage; and even with respect to Re.
form, he only proposed to submit the whole Matter
to Airliament and move for a general Committee:
He had the best reason to believe teat he never had
any thing to do with the rnanufactwing of Petitions.
Mr. BROUGHAM, in explanation. said he did
not attribute the manufacture of the Petitions to Mr.
Pitt himself; but it /as well known that they were
prepared by the agents of himself and the Duke of
Richmond.

Mr. R. WARD thought there were just reasons for
Mr. Pitt's adoption of very different sentiments in his
later years from those entertained by him when a
mere boy, and comparatively unacquainted with po-
litics and human nature. Whatever had been the
practice alluded to, he certainly would never admit
that petitions manufactured here, and sent down ready
niade to the country, perhaps imperfectly represent-
iug, it nut contradicting, the sentiments of the sub-
scribers. should be entitled to the same consideration
as those which proceeded generally from the dicta-
tion of Petitioners themselves, nor would it be just
they should— (hear, fear)—although such it would ap-
pear had been the sentiments of his Hon. Friend.
Lord A. HAMILTON thought the defence of
Mr. Pot, though already on record in two or three of
bit set speeches, fell very properly to the lot of the
able Gentleman, whose sincerity in defence of
that person's conduct could not adii.it of a question.
(if laugh.) Plt 'lament had unfortunately treated the
subject of petitions with much harshness, and in the
case of a petitiun he hadpresented to the House from
Durnfries.sa:i e, it had been objected that the Eigna-
tuies of all the boys in a school had been affixed to it,
a LitCUTIIE.O2:te which had been contradicted and dis-
proved by information he had since received.
Mr. SIIARP thought the sentiments of Mr. Pitt
might be considered not's() adverse to Reform, even
in his later years, from the evrangements he made
when the Union of this country sod Ireland took
place. It was very remarkable, that of the one hun-
dred Members added to that House, sixty of them
were for great towns or counties, in which the mode
of election was completely unobjectionaLle.
The Petition was then teed, and laid on the table.
Sir JAMES SHAW obt.tlned have to bring In a Ihd (11 regu-
late. the Otliceot Gauger of the City of boodoo•
Lord COLIMA:4U ;asked tor inturrystitni nespeent,g some
money lett by the W or a Mc. •Frf,tightein for Charitrbte pur-
poses. but ..Yh' had been escheated to the Crown.
The CH LI .014. of the EXCHEQUER said he believed
it was 'kelt known, t%:.'t un!.er the authority of the Lrown, tat
property in Tiestion had been applied it. - iJ of the Civil 1.11. t.
Mr. i3AW.NGTON brought up a I' cii:outi liont the 1;.!1.1.V-
-tants of Lecester,. praying some Ateratani 'Le Visor Levi,
ittad and ordered to lie on the table.

Sir JOHN NEW POR C motet for an account of :he &dared
official value of all ll:ports hum Great i:rit“ltt tottel•ud, ft.r
every quarter in each of the years I 81.2, I 8 &tit and 1t...1 , al o
similar aci.ounts from 1792 to 1814.—Agreed to•
The London Gas Light Extension bul W4ll riad a gird et •
and pass.•tl.
other Orders being disposed of the House tdjouratJ.
PARLIAMEN I'ARY PAPERS.
OFFICES IN COUR I S OF LAW, ENGLAND.

Return to au Athirets or the Houuurable House ut ti:onnodos.

to his Royal liighneas tiie l'rince Knew, rvquir ng a Return
of the Natnesut all such subordinate Uflicers iti the several
• Cowls of Law and Equity of England, as are held ta frost
fur the several Chief or other Judges of such Courts, or of
which the Profits are, in the whole or impart, applied to 06:
ow •i specifying the Amount of bitch Protitg, and to wh..tia
and for whose use they are applied.
1. THE LORD CHANCELLOR.
- •

_ ......
It appears from a Report of the Committee of the
Honourable the House of Commons, made to thAt
House in the year 1811, that, among other emolu-
ments of the Great Seal, the pers,its bolding the si-
tuations of Secretary of Bankrupts, and Purse Bearer.
receive, for the use of the person holding the Great
Seal, aunts for which. they account, and which it is
believed, have been always the same, sal the prQse•it
Chancellor directed certain payments to be toads os::
of what was accounted for to his predecessots, as
stated in the Report of the Commissioners fur
quirkg into the fees of the Courts of Justice, a coil'
of which Report, as returned into Chancery. 11.1 s in
obedience to an order of the House, been 'laid bPiote
it. Soon after the Report of the Committee of
House of Commons in ISI I was made, the ertoiti:
ments of the Great Seal were charged, by Act or
Parliament, with £C2,500 a-year, to be pain to the
Suitors' Fund, to reimburse that Fund one.halt
the Vice-Chancellor's salary. The persons holding
those situations have, through a long puled ot ttate•
so received fur, and accounted to the Lord Ch.incel.
lair, Lord Keeper, and Lords Commis.iourrs et tile
Great Seal for the time being.
Unless these persons Call be considered as linh!itig
offices in trust for the Great Seal, within the ine.w.g
of the Address of the House of Commons, o: e
Mb day of February, there are no offices Nel,i la
trust fur the Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, ut LOI • $
Commissioners of the Great Seal for the time hm..!;.
or of which the inutits are in the whole or it pt.:. di"
plied to their use.
The Address referred to, if it applies to these iv.
ceipts, requires the amount received, but sprcin,, 110
period watt returnee to which that amount is To .-e
stated ; but it is thoug.ht r;ght to state the slims ri"
ceived fur; and accounted for to the Great 4e410 i"r