Star.
London, England, 1819-03-11 00:00:00

.......

wishing- for a temuneratt'en,..q.piitlyed for relief.
,The Honourable Member, stated-that Be did not pre-
sume to point out by what mole, but that the Pei-
tionc- most respectfully and most humbly left that
to the wisckm of the House.
Mr. HART DAVIS approved of the invention,'
and thought that Mr. Traxton ought to be rewarded
for this exercise of his genius to the advantage of
the Public.
Sir ISAAC COFFIN testified 'to the truth of the
allegations of the Petitioner. A representation had
been made to the Admiralty, •and the answer was
not only very falgourable, highly approving of the
invention, but indicated some remuneration.
Mr. %V. FITZGERALD believed that Govern-
ment intended to bestow on the Petitioner a remune-
ration for his very useful invention.—The Petition
was received, read, and ordered to lie on the table.

• INSOLVENT DILL AND INSOLVENT COURT.
Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from
a numerous description of Traders and other Inhabi-
tants of Bridge-street Ward, London, against the re-
newal of the Insolvent Bill. The Hon. Alderman,
although he considered it his duty to present the
Petition to the House, yet differed from the prayer
of the Petitioners, at least as to the extent whiCh it
went.' Ile had no hesitation in saying, that_he was
for a Bill of Insolvency. The present Bill ;night be
amended in such a manner as to make die law
equally salutary for the honest creditor and the ho-
nest debtor. Without an Insolvent Bill the country
at such a crisis would feel incredible distress.

Mr. BROUGHAM, observing an 'Hon. Baronet
(Sir James Graham) in his place, recurred to the
aliegations advanced by-him against the Clerk of the
Court (Mr. Clarkson) ; but he (Mr. Brougham) might
perhaps be mistaken. If he understood the Hon.
Baronet rightly, what had fallen from hinf (Sir Jas.
Graham) tended to inculpate the Clerk of the Insol-
vent Court, who, so far as he (Mr. Brougham) could
learn, was a very unexceptionable character, and had
always stood high in the esteem of his friends. If he
(Mr. Brougham) bad tightly undo stood the Honour-
able Baronet, he had charged the Clerk of the Insol-
vent Court with acting the part of a perpetual As-
signee, with the power of collectinsathe monies or
property of the insolvent ; but that the creditor could
seldom or never obtain a single farthing of dividend.
If he were wrong in this,report of the Hon. Baronet's
observations, he (Sir James Graham) could set him
right. But the Honourable Baronet would on in-
quiry be convinced, that the allegations, if used by
him, were altogether ill founded. If no real assignee
were appointed on the Insolvent being discharged, a
Mr. Jeuffs, a nominal one, was appointed ; and when-
ever the creditors chose to select their own assignee,
the latter was immediately invested with the power
to act. All monies for the behoof of the creditors
were of course paid to the real asiignee so appointed.
To prove, if any proof were wanting, she diligence,
fidelity, and honour, of the present Clerk of the Court
(Mr', Clarkson), he had, since the short time be had
beets in office. recovered monies to the amount of
sixty thousand pounds sterling, besides a sum of
fifteen thousadd pounds sterling, all for the benefit
of the creditors. He had never acted as provisional'
assignee. His son, indeed, was receiver—(hear, hcar).
But whatever was eatrusted to leis care was duly re-
gistered, and ready when called for. Besides the
sums now mentioned, recovered by the diligence of
the Clerk of Court, the property arising from aisles,
not yet finished or accounted for, might perhaps
amount to three times these sums. Out of the
£15,000 the sum of £9obo had already been paid to
the creditors, and the remaining 06000 was also
ready at their disposal. Neither the Clerk of the
Court, nor any of the other Officers; ever meddled
with the funds belonging to the creditors. The Hon.
Member, from every information which he could
collect, approved of the character and conduct of the
superior Officers of the Court.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM, in answer, said, that he
luever meant to allude to Clarkson (the Clerk of the
Court), or to any other Officer. He had heard it
rumoured as an universal complaint, that there was
no assignment of property at the Insolvent Court,
and that no monies did arise in the shape of divi-
dends. But be that as it may, the sdbject ought to
be investigated, and it was his privilege as well as
his duty to offer his animadversions.
Mr. ABERPROMBY fully concurred in the state-
ment made by his Hon. and Learned Friend, and
would only trouble the House with one observation
in addition. It was as to the manner in which the
property of insolvents was made available to their
creditors, as compared with the property of bank-
rupts ; and when he considered the ease and cheap-
ness with which that preperty sysis procured by the
creditors in the former case, and compared them
'with the difficulty, the expense; and delay in the
latter, the result was certainly greatly in favour of
the mode adopted by the Insolvent Court ; indeed,
in so much as to be one reason why the operation of
the Act did not tend to diminish the number of
bankrupts. In the first short period after the passing
*the Act, it had the effect of diminishing, in some
degree, the number of bankruptcies ; but when it
was found that the discharge did not protect any
future property of the insolvent, as was the case in a
certificate under a bankruptcy, but that it left that
still open to the claims of the creditors, the number
of bankruptcies became the same as before, or rather
,had very considerably increased; and that increase
be considered in some measure owing to the desire
!of having that protection to future property which
the certincate gave, but which the wise rules of the
Insolvent Act did not allow. He was a friend to the
continuance of the Insolvent Act, and he would stake
his support of it upon its great comparative superio.
'sky to the system under the Bankrupt Laws.
Mr. HURST approved highly of the Bill, even in
its present state. It had frequently been his duty to'
attend, and frequently to preside at the County
Meetings 'where he resided (Sussex), and during a
period of four years, nearly the whole time of the
present Bill, they had only, by the powers given-to
Country Magistrates, found 'it' necessary to remand
far' Moe,

0 persons . fraudulent ractices.--( ,deer.)
This in his opinion was a solfieient proof tbe salts.
tarp operations of the Act if, however. Gentlemen
were not contented with it in ittolny stOod, I might
be easily arnonded aced:ads $n their wishes is a
Ctrainiwe. It was * heautsz mem*, and could
not be diipensed With, *wilily* maims town-
tall upon society utter lib:alai It trai,

as tiedess'atY for the unfortunate bet honest debtor,
as it u-is Tor the indnstrious and honest creditor. He
should therefote. think tt his duty to support it. • •
The Petition was then received, read, and ordered
to lie on the table.
Mr. BYNNET was about to present a Petition from
a certain description of inhabitants of ShrewAhury,
praying against the renewal of the Insolvent Bill,
even with amendments.

Mr. BROUGHAM was sorry to interrupt his Ho:,
nourable Friend. As the Petitioners would not allow
Parliament to make any amendments for the purpose
of passing a new law, he thought it was of too pre-
suming a nature ; and, therefore, the House might
perhaps pause before they received it. If, however,
it were in other respects unexceptionable, De had no
objection to its being presented, in order to lie on
the table.—The Petition was then received„read, and
ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. MELLISH presented a Petition from certain
Inhabitants of St.Giles's, against the renewal of the In•
solvent Bill.—ltead, and ordered to lie on the table.

MAD-HOUSES.

Mr. WYNN did not think it would be necessary
to detain the /louse with any observations upon the
Bill which he was about to introduce to the House.
Four titles already had the House sanctioned Bills
for the tegulation of Houses for Insane Persons. It
was now about four years since a Committee, ap-
pointed to inspect into and report upon the State of
Mad-houses in the Kingdom, had developed a scene
of misery and affliction such as never was exhibited
to that House-before, without some adequate mea-
sures having been adopted to prevent their recur-
rence. He could not account for'the fact, that these
Reports were not followed up by some legislative
provision. There were even no amendments offered
on the former 'Bills, and no good was done except
what followed from the exposure of abuses that was
made by the Committee's Report. It was the duty
of the House, however, to persist in renewing provi-
sions again and again, until the abuses were radically
destroyed. He did not mean to say that the abuses
which the Committee reported were now in existence;
but he would state, that'there was one house which'
had never been duly licensed, and for the support of
which the Physician had no adequate funds. He
trusted that there would be no objection to his
Its general object was, to create a Board of Inspec-
tion, capable of being subdivided, and authorised to
inspect houses of this description, and report upon
them annually. There was another provision intro-
duced, or rather revived—that of imposing a forfei-
ture upon all who gave a false return of the names
of the patients. This salutary condition, though in
existence, was almost ,wholly suppressed in practice ;
for, instances frequently occurred in which persons
have been sent to houses under false names, and no
inquiry could possibly take place into their previous
circumstances. He therefore proposed a penalty to
counteract such an abuse. Though he was thus,
prompt in bringing forward new provisions, he
would be found equally ready in giving up such as
appeared to be unnecessary or disadvantageous.;
He, therefore, would exclude the appointment of a"'
Board of Inspection in each bounty, by the Magi-
strates of the Quarter Sessions, as he intended to
take a better mode of obtaining all the advantages,
which such an appointment could possibly produce.
As the law now stood, any person might be confined
in a mad house, without any certificate from a me-
dical man, or any notice given respecting such per-
son to the Secretary of State, and be altogether out
of the protection of the law. No doubt an- applica-
tioa might be made to bring such person before a
Judge on a writ of Habeas - Corpus but, in mane,.
cases, this could not be done, because the friends of
a real or supposed lunatic might not be able to know
where such lunatic was confined. He really believed
that many persons were kept in a state of confine-
ment in mad-houses, without being in the slightest
degree insane; and he believed that in many houses
they were- detained long after it was necessary to do
so, and after a complete recovery had been effected.
The madhouses frequently were not considered as
places where lunatics were to be restoxed to health,
but as a species of dungeon, where they were for ever
to be lost to society, and never heard of more. There-
fore, he should introduce into his Bill provisions to
this effect :—That in all mad-houses kept for hire, no
lunatic should be received without a certificate fiom
a medical man, setting forth the state and condition
of the hmatic's health ; that a notice of such person,
mentioning the name, condition, &c. should be sent
to the office of the Secretary of State, in order that
any person might be able to know where a lunatic
was confined. It might be said, that this would be
a painful exposure of the infirmities of private fami-
lies; but that could not be an objection sufficient to
prevent a regulation so essential to the liberty of the
subject as that which fie now had to propose. The
Honourable Gentleman concluded with moving for
leave to bring in a Bill for repealing the Acts of the
14th and the 25th of his present Majesty, for the re-
gulation of Mad houses, and for making other provi-
sions in lieu thereof.—Leave given to bring in the Bill.

CASH RECEIVED BY THE RANK.
Mr. MARTIN wished to know from the Right
Honourable Gentleman opposite, whether any ar-
rangement had been made between the Bank and the
Mint for an adequate supply of silver to the Bank?
Mr. W. POLE answered, that an arrangement
had beet made between the Mint and the Bank, by
which the former undertook to supply the latter with
from SO to 55,0001. every month ;. and if the Bank,
wanted a larger sum, they should have it.

IVARINE MUTINY BILL.
. Sir CrEQRG}. WARREkIDER obtained leave to
bring in. and afte;wards brought up, a Bill for the
regulation cif his Majesty's Marine Forces shilst on
shore.-.ltrad 4 first, And ordered to be read a second
time tomorrow (this day). •

CCHEcGIEATED EXCHEQUER ACTS.
On the motion being put that the other Orders of
the Day be read,
• Mr. GRENFELL said, that although the Chan-
, rellor of the Exchequer was not then in his place, he
lett it necessary to put a questiCe relative.to the ar-
rangements intended to be made on the subject of
the Exchequer deposits remaining in the lauxis of
'the Bank. He wished to state what his opinion was,
and stistiedthat the public shoule also hare a right
understanding respecting whaEhßd been stated en a
formle nightity-the Chancellar of di. Exchequer.'
Mr. Daum ACM caatibe 1i0n0w.414

.
Qiiatenotjaerndiscnuts*sioVreL theßs ittbefP"redo. tote.irlouwas:"*
Mr. OftIiNFE.I.I." There is a question ltlf,
the House ; it is, that the other Orders cfj:e
be now read, axd I have a right to speak to
question."
The SPEAKEA--" The Honourable Ctremr.4
may, consistently with order, speak, when the-e:,
question befote the Lionie r but it is only order;,
him to speak tio the question."—(lieer, hear,
The motion for reading the, other Orders cf
D..ly was then carried.

On the Older being next read for the Roulet°
sclve itself ha° a Committee of Supply, and kr
Committee to be postponed•to,Friday,'
Mr. GREN FELL again rose. lie declared itto
his opinion, that what had heencstated by the
cellor uf the Exchequer, relative to the balarees,
m'aining at the Bank, mid applicable to the !t-:
of the puhlic,, had produced upon the public
an impression which was founded in en or aad de'
sion. The effect of his statement was such zs to:
men to believe, that there was a balance of slim:
lions at the Bank, which was to be available to t.
public service. An impression of that kind had
made upon his own mind, but he would now decla
on his own responsibility, and the credit he conceis
himself ,entitled to from that House, that instead
such a sum being in the Bank, there was no p.
bility of the public balances producing more td
three millions. Ile could not avoid making this .
claration ; the subject was deeply impressed :pen}'.
mind, and he had no hopes of seeing a great= s, •
than what he had just named, applied to the servi.
of the public. He should, to-morrow, move flSr'p-
pers to prove the truth of, rhat he now stated.
Mr. LUSHINGTON expressed his regret drat
Right Hon. Friend was then absent; and he
sorry to and the Honourable Gentleman had not
served that courtesy and delicacy usttai on such oc
casions, by putting questions in the .absence
Member; who alone was competent to answer
satisfactorily, and thus suffering an unfavoe
Impression to. go forth among the public. He, hew
ever, could bear testimony to what had, been sta...
by his Right Hon. Friend, it was, that six milli
of money, now at the Bank, would be applicable te
the public service; and that ofthis sum, Cla0,0;.0,
would come out of the growing produce d the
solidated Fund. The k3lll which he was about to
bring in would fully explain the subject.
Mr. TIERNEY contended, that his Right Fawns.
able Friend was correct in what he stated ; and be
himself believed there was no more at the Bank fe7
the use of the public dila a sum of between ire*
and four millions.

Mr. MABERLEY said, there was only 2 slim
three millions at the Bank for the use of the Pabi
The remaining sum was a debt owing by the Gove
ment to the Bank.

Mr. HUSKISSON said this debt would be paid.
Mr. GRENFELL assured the Honourable Gu

tlemen opposite, that if they could make out the as-
sertions that there were six millions at the
.park ftv
the use of the public, be should immediately =know-
/edge himself to be in error.
Mr. MELLISH believed, that if his Right Honour-
able Priend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, were
then present, he would be able to.refute what
asserted by the Honourable Gentleman opposite.
" Mr. BENNET thought it was the duty of the
eellor Of the Exchequer to be in his place.
Mr. VESEY FITZGERALD said, that os ma
was more punctual in his attendance in that kicase
than his Right Honourable Friend ; and it was cc,
tainly a great want of courtesy thus to take advan-
tage of his absence by bringing forward statements
of this nature, which ought not to be suffered to go
forth to the Public without being contradicted. Tae
impression on his mind, as to what hail been stated
by his Right Honourable 'Mend, was very different
from what had been stated by the honourable Gen-
tleman. Ile understood his friend to have said, not ,
that a sum of six millions was actually to have been
paid by the Bank to the Public, but that what the
Bank was to give, together with the surplus of the
Consolidated Fund, would amount to six millions.
Here the conversation dropped, and the Commit-
tees of Supply and Ways and Means were put of
to Friday.