Star.
London, England, 1827-06-08 00:00:00

POliiitlP* Two wyegttea froat
'ions of two &psis Botfontablre, by Aft

MIRO/AGE PROM TRU TRION..
Mr. CANNING appeared at the bar arkb a lasimerc.
Throne, which was brought op and read. is Wawa

(home gm
" Hie Majesty, deeming it expedient to proScie

expenses which may arise on account of the continuance of Ma
Majesty's forces in Portugal, and relying on his experience of
the seal and affeetioa of his faithful Commons, trims they will nuke
provision accordingly."
Mr. CANNING observed, that this communication from she
Throne referred to a subject to which he bad adverted in the state-
ment of the Budget on Friday, the necessity of basin a vote of
credit on account of oar Forces in PortugaL He would therefore
move that his Majesty's gracious Message be taken into considera-
tion in a Committee of Supply to.naorroan--OrderedL

TUT AND CORPORATION ACTS.
Lord J. RUSSELL, on rising to present several Pe-
titions for the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts,
said he would take that opportunity of stating the rea-
sons why he should not bring forward the motion of
whichle had given notice. Had he brought forward that
motion, he trusted arid believed that he should have been
able to shew the House, that the alterations asked for in
the law ought to have been granted both from feelings of
policy and of justice. He believed also he should have
been able to chew that the Act of Indemnity, even looked
upon as a pardon, was incomplete; and that the klotue
could not better consult the interests of the country
than by cleansing the Statute Book of the enactments
complained of. He confessed that he himself did ant look
upon the present time as unfavourable for bringing
forward the question, but those who had been consi-
dered, and justly so, as the organs of the Dissenters
had held a meeting, the great majority of which were
desirous that it should not be pressed forward this year.
The requisition to that effect had appeared in the news-
papers, and he had oo doubt that every Member of that
House had seen it. To their authority he bowed, and
felt bound to postpone the question. Having stated
thus much, however, he must add, that the same body
had expressed it to be their strong desire that the
question should be brought forward very early next
Session, and should it be unsuccessful on that oc-
casion, that it should be regularly brought forward
every year, until the concessions applied for were
granted. On the 'general question he would then
say no more; but be wished to make one or two
remarks upon the contents of many of the pe-
titions which had been presented by the Dissenters
and the friends of religions liberty. On no previous
occasion did be believe that so many positions had
been presented to that House, and the majority of those
petitions prayed for a repeal of all laws at all affecting
the free exercise of religion. It was therefore most
unjust to say that the Dissenters were inimical to
Catholic Emancipation. In conclusion he would only
remark, that he trusted the time was fast approach-
ing when England would be on an equality with the
other enlightened nations of Europe, and that all dis-
tinctions complained of would be swept away. He
begged to say in express terms, that he had no intention
of bringing forward the motion of which he had given
notice for the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts.]
Mr. W. SMITH confirmed the statement made by
the Noble Lord, and expressed his conviction that the
gratitude of the Dissenters was more than ever due to
bim for the ready compliance which he had given to the
request. The Hon. Gentleman then stated the griev-
ances of the Dissenters at some length, and maintained
that the Test Act and Indemnity Act were regarded by
the Dissenters as most degrading. Their grievances
were not merely theoretical, but they were practical, as
was evidenced by the occurrences of every day.
After a few remarks from Mr. J. Woos, who agreed with the
Noble Lord in thinking that It would hare bees better not to have
postponed the consideration of the question,
General GASCOYNE 'Aid, bethought the postpone-
ment was caused by the expression of a Right Hon.
Gentleman's (Mr. Canning's) opinion. He protested
against the Catholic Claims being bound together with
those of the Dissenters, and he must say that he feared
from what had lately been said in that House, that sane
such compromise of principle had been made.
Mr. CURTEIS wished to ask the Noble Lord whe-
ther he intended to mix up the two questions ? If they
were united, it would be doing a serious injury to the
cause of the Dissenters.

Lord J. RUSSELL said, he was not aware of the
Resolution of the Protestant Dissenters until last Wed-
nesday. He denied any intention of.tompromising in
the course he puraned. In answer to the Hon. Member
(Mr. Curteis) he begged to say, that there Was no in-
tention of uniting the questions of Catholic Emancipa-
tion and that of the repeal of the Test Acts. He would
bring on the latter motion as a separate question.
The Petitii;as were then read. They werd from several Congre-
gations of Protestant Dissenters ; one frdin soma Protestant Cler-
gymen and other members of the Church of Ragland; and one from
several Roman Catholics, praying for a repeal of the Test Acts:—
They were ordered to lie on the table.

great riisciesift upon the country banking establiChmenti.
He thought the Bank of England, after one year's trial,
had no right to doubt the solidity of Private Banks.—
The principal object, he knew, was to regulate the paper
currency, but in doing this the Directors should loOk
back to the mode in which they did business half a ceit-
tory back. The principal feature in the Rink Circular
(leaving out the advance to the Government) was the
continued demands they were called upon to pay on
the account of the Country Banks. Tne Honourable
Baronet then quoted many extracts from the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer's Financial Statement made in the
last year, which related to the state of the Unfunded
Debt. He thought what was advanced by the Right
Hon. Gentleman at that time would be substantiated
in the present Session. He was convinced 'that if the
Bank of England would free themselves from specula-
tion, and only attend to the necessity of keeping a eel.•
fain quantity of bullion by them, so as readily to keep
their word—" I promise to pay on demand"—it would
be better. than indulging in the schemes of assistance
they were continually doing. He thought the paper
currency of the country ought not to be kit in the bands
of one corporation alone. The superior power which they
mild of undervaluing property was too much. Every
w that instances wereof daily occurrence in which
persons were nearly ruined in consequence of the susideta
revalsions in the price of funded property. 'With re-
spect to the more particular object of the circular, be
thought that it was clear that the Bank wished to rid
themselves of Country Banks. The Hon. Bart. took the
opportunity of applauding the measures of his Majesty's
Ministers, and assured thaws of his support. The Hon.
Baronet concluded' with moving, that " A Select Com-
mittee be appointed to inquire whether the Governor
and Company of the Bank of England, or any of the
Directors of that Bank, have circulated a letter, lend-
ing to cast doubts on the solidity. of private banks ch..
culating paper, and thereby inflating the commercial
and manufacturing interests of the country."
Mr. PEARSE said, that the author of the letter or'
paper to which the Hon. Baronet's observations referred
was a Director of the Bank. He was certain that indi-
vidual would be extremely sorry if any mischief had re-
sulted from the publication of his paper. A more honest
or well-intentioned person than the individuil in question
did not exist. With respect to the plan itself, when its
author asked his (Mr. Pearse's) opinion of it, he told him
he thought it a very foolish one. (A laugh). The manner
in which the plan got into circula ion was this,— The per-
son who drew it up asked the pinions of some confiden-
tial friends respecting it ; they answered, that they could
not pronounce judgment upon it till they had had an
opportunity of considering it leisurely. He therefore
caused about twelve copies of his paper to be made,
for the purpose of giving to his particular friends, and
one of these copies found its way into a public journal.
He could assure the House that the plan had met with
no encouragementfrom the Directors, to whom, indeed,
it bad never been submitted in any shape la hatever—
(Hear, hear). The Hon. Member had charged the Bank
with being desirous of accuennlating profits without
regard to the means which they 'resorted to for that
purpose. He could take upon himself to say, that the
Bank had never been actuated by such a selfish feeling.
Upon this point he might refer the House to the testi-
mony of the late Mr. Horner, who, though he disap-
proved of the power possessed by the Bank, declared
himself satisfied with the discretion and prudence
with which it had been exercised. On all occasions
the Bank was desirous of carrying on its business as
-much as possible for the benefit of the public. In con-
clusion be Observed, that the appointment of a Com-
mittee would be perfectly useless, as it would be impos-
sible to obtain any other information than that which he
had given without any reservation whatever—(Hear.)
Mr. CANNING said, that after the explanation which
had been given by the Hon. Bank Director (Mr. Pearse),
he felt it unnecessary to do more than to state that the
plan of which the Hon. Baronet complained had nut
proceeded from any suggestion of Government.
Mr. MABERLY thought that the Bank ought to
have denied, in the public papers, that the plan ema-
nated from them. It would nut have been derogatoiy
from the character of 'the Bank to have done so, and
that would have rendered the present motion onneeea-
sary. He was of opinion that the Director who had
circulated the plan had acted extremely wrong.
Mr. BARING thought that the Director in question
was being dealt rather hard by, for amongst the mime•
rods projects which had been put forth on the subject
of the currency,there was none which struck him as more
ingenious than that of the Hon. Director—(Hear).
Sir H. PARNELL expressed a hope that the cur-
rency would be placed upon a permanent basis.
Lord MILTON anticipated only a renewal of the dis-
asters of the last few years, from any tampering with
the currency at the present moment.
Mr. HUME thought it was the duty of the Bank of
England to take care of the public interest. He hoped
the Chancellor of the Exchequer would look in future
a little closer at the regulations which the Bank might
propose, before they were carried into effect. He ap-
proved of the principles adopted in Scotland, by which
the bolder of a country note could procure payment in
specie within 48 hours after the presenting such note.
After a few words from Sir I Waorramse, who expressed Men.
self saddled with the answer of all Dank Director (Mr. Pearce),
the motion was withdrawn.

Mr. MOORE moved, that the Petition of the Operatives of
Dublin, presented a few dais Mace, should be referred to a Select

—Ur. -LA-ÜBE thought the House should pause before they
adopted the course proposed.
After a few words from Mr. Goarraw, the motion was withdrawn.
Lord J. RUSSELL, as Chairman of the Committee on the beat
mode of taking Pulls at Elections. moved for end obtained kove -to
bring in a Bill to carry the Report of that Committee into Greet.
The Poll would be limited in duos by the present Bill to Az days
instead of 15, as admitted by the existing law, and net more than
500 voters would be allowed to poll at one booth.

BRIEFS IN CBURCIIRS.

Mr. PEEL stated that, agreeably to notice, he had
meant to call the attention of the House towards a re.
modelling of the law respecting money collected
.by
briefs in churches; but he despaired of being able to
introduce a Bell which could pass into a law dusting the
present Session. He wished, however, that •` -
Should have •
she subject,
himself for
utterable sui
fitst, the •
tor compensatil
capas.lt w.*

.............„F 'Kok "her bad blow, kOiy dismit by.. Ho wished
rnl
&
Womsv• ' is cssf to Ve impartAillf&scoiMa; bat he Aid not
THRONE,. rget tfic steps *bleb hack tWeti iursiied)it die aut.
rkb a Minor from the mencemint of the year 1826 by his 1113jesty's Go-
It was as fellows : vernment, and which, as regarded pc.otland, if p-
ried into efis objection fect.
on towould go very near to ruin the country.
mat& for any additional' H L•tue letter was because it went to throw
r the eandneanee of hie

1 ,
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I.

ision. He wished, however, that the country I 1
re notice, that if no other individual took up
, he would bring forward a Bill next Session
the purpose he had mentioned. Very con- 1
urns had been raised by briefs for two objects
!. repair and rebuilding cf churches; secondly:
p4tion to individuals suffesing by fire. or other
Fas impossibleto look g As returns of the sums
i