Star.
London, England, 1819-05-21 00:00:00

tanLittm thoupbe it vould .60 most unfair
to take off the tax on coals at.this moment.
Alderuxisn,M.6.lTHMAN conceived that
most unwaerantahls attack was made on the city of
London, through thin motion, 'by an Honourable
Gentleman, who said that London wanted to oppress
the xest of the country, merely because London
wanted to he itself relieved from the tax altogether.
Citizens of London were not most affected by
this tax ; on the contrary, the other parts of the Me-
tropolis were much more affected, because there were
so many manufactories in its neighbourhood, in which
vast quantities of Coals were expended.
Sir JOHN dELIHIGHT declared that no man
would be more ready to contribute to the expenses
of the State than himself, provided they were equally
laid on ; but as this tax was partial and unfair, he
was averse to it.
Mr. MAXWELL said, that it was no grievance on
the City of London to be subject to this tax, consi-
dering the many advantages that City enjoyed. He
therefore opposed the motion.
Sir MAT CHEW RIDLEY declared, as a reason
why the•tax should not be laid on at the pit's mouth,
that for some years past, the price of Coals had fallen
considerably at the pit's mouth ; and this happened
even at a time when the Coals in London were at the,
very highest prices.
Mr. ELLICE considered the Duties on Coals as
most partial and oppressive.
Mr. BENNETT considered the tax most unjust,
unequal, and oppressive, and therefore he should sup-
port the motion.

Mr. PROTHEROE supported the total Repeal ofl
the DUtiei. •
Mr. Alderman WOOD spoke in explanation c and
declared, that in what he had said he did not mean to
throw out any insinuation against the City of Bristol.
Mr. BYNG considered this as a most oppressive
and unequal tax, and he should suppqr the motion.
Mr. HART DAVIS spoke en the same side with
Mr. PROTHERO4 namely, for the repeal of all the
duties.
Mr. H. SUMNER spoke in reply. In many parts
of Surrey, and particulai-Iy in the town of Farnham,
no less thansl4s.were paid for freightage alone upon
coals. He was well aware of the great defect in the
finances of the country ; but no consideration of that
kind would indite him to forego his present motion.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the Motion 49—Against it 151—Majority 102.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS ACT.
Lord ALTHORPE said, he rose in pursuance of
the wishes of the Cornibittee, to move for leave to
bring in a Bill, to amend the Insolvent Debtors' Act.
He apologized to the House for having brought it
forward, before the Report of the Committee was laid
on the table ; but it was the wish of the Committee,
that before the Bill .came to be discussed, .it should
be in the hands of Members, and its merits suffi-
ciently judged of, before it passed into a law. He
wished t'b make the House and the country under-
stand the principles which this .Bill contemplated.—
According to the old law between Debtor and Cre-
ditor, the individual contracting debts was kept in
prison till those debts were paid ; but the grievances
produced by this inflexible rigour rendered it neces-
sary to pass temporary Insolvent Debtors' Acts,
which, however, were frequently abused. The Noble'
Lord then adverted to the passing of the Insolvent
Debtors' Act, properly so called, and went into an
exposition of the abuses of it, with regard to persons
concealing their property, and otherwise eluding the
provisions of the law. To--ediritteract these abuses,,
he should propose that an eiiitiijrZtion should take
place out of Court, before it tat& place in Court, and
that there should be in the Insolvent Debtors' Court
three Commissioner; instead of one. He should,also
propose, that the claims of such creditors, as had not
proved their debts,within a certain time, should not
be taken into consideration ; and that the debtor be
obliged to claim the benefit of the Act within four-
teen days after his arrest, otherwise that he should
forfeit it. The nett measure he should propose was,
Ole Abolition of Fees in the Court in every instance.
The Noble Lord, after some other observations, moved
for leave to bring in a Bill for the Relief of the In-
solvent Debtors an England.
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN observed, that the
necessary documents not being before the House, he
could.not go into a general discussion upon it ; yet
-he wished it, at the same time, to be understood, that
be agreed in the views taken of this subject by the
Noble Lord, though it was still probable that he
might differ with him in some particulars.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER sup-
ported the motion, and in the course of his observa-
tions took occasion to compliment the Noble Lord
for the views he had taken of the question.
Mr. HURST said a few words to the same effect.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY said that the Ministers of the
Crown ought to avail themselves of this opportunity
to reduce the number of the Commissioners of Bank-
ropts, which now entailed upon the country an ex-
pense of £'35,000 a year, whereas three Commis-
sioners would be sufficient for all the purposes. He
merely suggested this, as the Bank) upt Laws ap-
peared to him to be connected with the subject before
the House.
• Mr. COURTENAY objected to the introduction of
the Bankrupt Question with reference to the present
subject; and said that he differed from the Noble
, Lord in some of the details of his motion.
Ii
Sir JOHN NEWPORT hoped that the benefits of
Idle law would be ettended to Ireland.
Mr. LESLIE FOSTER said, that the late Steve-
itsry of State for Ireland had introduced a motion to
assimilate the law in both countries, and he doubted
,not but the present Secretary would do the same..,
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
Lord ALTHORPE afterwards brought in the Bill,
.which was read the first time; to be read the second
tine to-morrow fortnight.
POOR DETTILEmetrt.
•
Mr. CRIMPS, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill
'to amend the laws relative to the settlement of di.
.poor, explained the nature and tendency of the proo,
sent Act. The principal object he loomed he
MI
change so much of the law of settlement acrequirestii
lasiniitcy of £lO t0.C0.1 He wouldsperely bring Is
stha Bill now, and leave it for discitasaoc• until Lb.
'next Session. 4 •
Mr, S. BOURNE did not expeatlfOlrt-coultiltu-
nication he bad with the' Honourable Memberi that
he would have brought in.the presets 0241. He tiaid
it was his intention to bring in a Bill, upon this law,