Star.
London, England, 1828-03-29 00:00:00

LAW 01 EVIDENCE AMENDMENT BILL.

On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWN,
the House resolved itself into a Committee upon this
Bill. In the Committee the Noble Marquis moved two
amendments to the following effect—to extend the pri-
sikge of giving evidence by affirmation in criminal
cases to the Moravians as well as Quakers, and to ex-
clude persons who have suffered the penalties cf perjury
from that provision of the Bill, which place criminals
who have undergone the punishment of their crime in
the same situation as if they had a pardon under the
Great Seal.
These amendment having been agreed to, the House resumed.
The Report was then received.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said, that he would
not now appoint a day for the Bill being read a third
time, but when, with its amendments, it had b:en
printed, he would give notice of the time when he
bhould move the third tending of this, together with
the former Bill.

-.;-The---11ouse;lt; adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. DICKENSON presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of the County of Somerset, in favour of the Sealant Rail Road.
—Ordered to be laid on the table.
Lord WM. POW LET presented a Petition from the Inhabi-
tants of Boston, in favour of the Darlington Ran Road
Ordered to be laid on the table.

Sir WILLIAM GUISE moved the second reading of the Bath
Rail Rood Bill.

CALVERT broogbt up the Report of the Committee
I Standing Orders, in the use of the Cambridge Rail Road.—The
rders were complied with.
Mr. M. FITZGERALD atoved the Reading of the Tralee
arbour Bill.—h was read a second time.

Sr R. INGLIS presented a Petition from tertaiu Inhabitants
of East Warden, against the Repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts.—Ordered to be printed.
Sir T. GOOCH resented a Petition from the Maitsters of
Hedleigh, praying the Repeal of the Tax on Malt.—Ordered to be
printed.
Mr. MUNDT moved for several Returns connected with
INstillesies in Ireland, and the number of Informations laid against
them for Fraud, in seeking to obtain the Drawback of ls. Td. the

Lord BELFAST presented a Petition from the Inhabitant%
Maksters, of Belfast, for the Repeal of the Tea on Mak ; also a
Petition against the /Establishment of the Tatnpike Trust.—Or.
dewed to he on the table.

Mr. KENNEDY brought up the Report of the Scotch Entail
BilL—Ordered to be printed.

Mr. W. DUNDA'S presented a Petition from the Mahsters of
Edinburgh, praying a Repeal of the Duty on Malt.—Ordered to be
printed.
Sir T. LRTHBRIDGE presented a Petition from the Magis-
trates and others of Chard, in Somersetshire, praying that the Re-
tail Trade in Cider should be restored to im ancient footing.—Or-
dered to be printed.
Mr. HUNK presented a Petition from the Dissenters of Perth
in favour of the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts.-Ordered
to be printed.
On the motion of Mr. DAWSON, the Application of Aids MI
went through a Committee, and the Report was ordered to be re-
ceived tomorrow.

The Scotch Akbouse Regulation Bill was read a second time,
and ordered to be committed on the 12th of May next.
The further consideration of the Supply and Ways and Means
was postponed to Monday next.
Sir IL FERQUSON presented three Petitions from the Inha-
bitants of the Royal Burgh of Auchinleck, and from several Cor-
porations in Edinburgh, in favour of the Repeal of the Test Laws.
Ordered to be printed.
Mr. O'BRIKN presented a Petition from the Catholics of Kit-
Woe in favour of Catholic Emandpadon, and against the Sob-lat-
hing Act.—Ordered to be printed.
Lord STANLEY presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of
the Chapeky of Oldham, praying the Ileirourable House would
please to take their case into consideration.--Referred to the Com-
mittee on Standing Orders.

COMPIXIATION TO 114111STRAILL

On the motion of Mr. Lama, the House resolved itself into a
Committee of the whole House, with a view to afford compensa-
tion to the Registrars of Courts in Ireland, who are to be dismissed
in consequence of a Bill now in progress through that House.
Sir J. NEWPORT would not at present oppose theßmolution,
bat be begged to be understood as not being pledged to the proposed
grant in the future stages of the Bin. There was a Report on the
table of the House for eight years, which exhibited gross abuses,
and which should be inquired into before any thing further was done.
Mr. BARING objected to the system of remunerations as now
adopted. The sums charged for such remunerations were very
large, and deserved the most minute inquiry.
The Report was brought up, and ordered to be received onMom.
day ileZt.

THR CORN LAWS.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, he rose for the purpose of
postponing the motion of which his Right Hon. Friend
the President of the Board of Trade had given notice
for this clity. That motion respected the Corn Laws,
subject of very grew interest and importance to the
House and to the country ; and, after the remarks which
had been made a few evenings since, he conceived that
there should be as little delay as possible in bringing it
forward. But he had this day received a communica-
tion, stating himself to be very unwell, but not so un-
well as to be unable to perform his duty, if he (Mr.
Peel) conceived it would be in any way inconvenient
to the House to put it off until Monday next. He (Mr.
Peel) expressed to bis Right Hon. Friend his conviction
that the House would willingly accede to stub a pro-

poen' under such eircumstancevrand felt no Affinity
in preferring to the House this request on behalf of the
Right Hon. Gentleman. He felt confident that the
H. use would, therefore, feel satisfied ; and as any farther
delay in bringing this question before the House would
be attended with inconvenience, if the Right Hon. Gen-
lieman were unable to attend the House on Monday,
helMr. Peel), or some other Member of the Govern-
ment, would state the views which his Majesty's Go-
♦ernment held upon the subject. He hoped, however,
there was no doubt of the Right Hon. Gentleman being
himself present.

Sir EDWARD KNATCH BULL thought it would
be desirable that the Right Honourable Gentleman had
better state somewhat as to the course to be pursued.
if the Right Honourable Gentleman, the Secretary for
the Board of Trade, intended to lay his Resolutions upon
the table of the House, he (Sir E. Knatchbull) hoped
they would be printed, and that time would be given
for Members so Satisfy their minds with respect to
them; and that considering the state of the House at
that precise period of the Session, Members would not
be called upon for any specific declaration.
Mr. Secretary PEEL had no hesitation in saying,
that his Right Honourable Friend would on Monday
pursue that course which was most consistent with thel
genesal practice of the House. He would then present
to the House for their consideration, those Resolutions
on which his Majesty's Government had determined.
If it should appear to be the sense of the House that on
account of the absence of many Members, it would not
be well to come to any po•itive vote either for or
against those Resolutions—and that for the same reason
it would be inconvenient to pledge the House as to any
specific plan to be adopted, he (Mr. Peel) felt as.
sured that his Right Honourable Friend would act in
the way most consistent with the proceedings of the
House, and most conformable with the views enter-
tained by its Members. _ _

Mr. WHITMORE expressed his opinion that much
inconvenience would wise if those Resolutions were
declared in Committee, as the House would thus pledge
itself io some particular course, as such declarations
made in Committee would tend greatly to embarass
their, proceedings. He felt much interested in this
question, inasmuch as he intended to pursue now the
same course_which he had pursued during the last Sea.
sion of Parliament, and to propose a series of Resolu•
tions, which might pethaps differTrom, and be, in his
opinion, better than those to be submitted by the Right
Hon. Gentleman.

Mr. BARING said, it would, no doubt, be very in-
expedient for the House to pledge itself upon a plan so,
complicated as that to be proposed by the Right Hon.
Gentleman. But it appeared to him that, if any Hon.
Member were called upon to vote, it would be merely
a matter of form, and with a view to give the proceed-
ings a distinct shape. As fir as his experience went,
the course to be pursued would be to submit certain
Resolutions, which Resolutions wire, upon a motion to
that effect, ordered to be printed ; and if any counter Re-
solutions were put, they, as a matter of courtesy, would
be suffered to be printed also; and then the same Com-
mittee would be adjourned until after the holidays.•-
Any vote given, therefore, could be only a formal vote,
and would not be in any way pledging any individual
to any pat ticular coin se of proceeding. If any Hon.
Member would refer to the Journals of the. House, he
would find frequent instances in which Resolutions pro-
posed by Government, and counter Resolutions also,
had been ordered to be printed. There would be found
many precedents both of the one and of the other.
Mr. HUME stated his intention of moving. on Won-
day, if the forms of the House would permit him so to
do when the House was in Committee, a Resolution
for fixing a permanent duty on Corn.
Mr. PEEL said, the general wish seemed to be, that
the views of his Majesty's Ministers should be known as
soon as possible, and with that object the Resolutions
would be proposed on Monday. With respect to print-
ing the different sets of Resolutions, he admitted there
was precedent to justify it; but he thought it would be
very inconvenient to discuss them at one and the same
time. His Majesty's Ministers were very desirous that
the country should not be left any longer without the
expression of their opinion upon the subject, and in
whatever shape or form that object could be best at-
tained, they were peepared to acquiesce.--(Hear).
Lord ALTHORP sail, that no progress could be
made until the Resolutions were first ♦oted.

Mr. PEEL said, the Resolutions will necessarily enter
into detail, and if it should be the pleasure of the House,
the Government would only take a tormal vote upon the
Resolutions.

On the motion that the further consideration of the
Corn Law Acts be deferred till Monday next,
Sir JOHN W ROTTESLEY said, be wished for some
more precise information as to the course intended to
be pursued. If the Resolutions were voted, then the
Bill would be brought in, and they might subsequently
report progress ; but, before that could be done, there
must be some distinct proposition before the Howe.
Mr. PEEL said, the great object was to adopt some
form of proceeding which should put the country in
possession of the Resolutions agreed to by his Majesty's
Ministers ; and how that could be best effected was not
a matter of indifference. However, he felt quite satisfied
that on Monday there would be no misunderstanding
on the subject.
The motion was then agreed to.
A Message from the Lords announced their Lord-
ships agreement to several private Bills, without any
amendment.

RIGISTILAR-SCOMAND.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT swished to know what steps had been
taken respecting the vacant office of Registrar of Scotland, which
bad been declared useless by the Commissioners.
Mr. PEEL said that be had made inquiries into the nature and
duties of the office of Registrar, to which the Hon. Baronet bad
before directed his attention. The Registrar was paid by fees, and
sot by salary, and it was found that his situation was one of great
pecuniary responsibility. He bad made inquiries into the nature
of the risk, and, in short, into every thing connected with the of-
fice, and until be bad obtained the most complete information, no
appointment should be permanently made.
On the motion of Mr. Lama, the Irish Juries Reguladou Bill
was reconindtted.

The Report was brought up and read, and ordered to be taken
into further consideration on the loth April nest.
Mr. LAMB obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the better Re-
gulation and prevention of malicious 'eludes to Property in Ireland.
On the motion of Lord Jest Russia., the Test Laws Repeal
Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday neat.

PIOISTIR DL►YI

On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the Order of the
Day for the further consideration of the Report on the Penryn Dis-
franchisement J3iii, was read and agreed to. The Noble Lord then
moved that the amendments be now read a second time.

Mr. STEWART rose to propose an amendment.
The SPEAKER interposed. Unless it was an amendment of
an amendment the Honourable Member must wait until the present
motion should bays been disposed of.
The amendments were then read and agreed to.
Mr. STEWART again rose and said, it had been
reported abroad that seats in that House were to be
obtained by bribery and corruption---it was, therefore,
his intention to propose a clause in the Bill for transfer-
ring to Manchester the privilege hitherto enjoyed by the
Borough of Penryn, in order ‘o preserve Manchester
from the chance of an accusation of members baring
been monied by bribery and corruption. The Noble

Lord being a reformer, would of course ruppog
(Mr. a's) motion, in order to ensure the put it, o.
representation of Manchester, his adopted child.
clause he intended to propose, and which he should'
move, VIJS to the following effect:

“ And be It further roasted; that the firing,s so be reel%
to represent the Borough of Manchester, shall each of them,
he comes to the table of the House of Canvases tete rwurria,
and subscribe the following deciaratios— I, h.: B, de most sole%
declare, that neither directly nor indirectly, to my howay
have the votes or suffrages of the Burgesses of Manchesttr,
behalf, been obtained through br"ibery or corruption, err
influence of any Peer of the realm.
Sir J. NEWPORT opposed the motion. A t
"one had many years since been proposed in that
and rejected. He- was quite convinceJ the L'
Font adopt a motion, having for it object to
electors of Marchester in a diferent situali
'of any other city or borough in the kingdom. It
equally sure that while the, House conferred ,
people of Manchester the elective franchise, it
litrt at the same time express a want of confidence
purity of their principles—(Hear.)
Mr. D. W. HARVEY said there was now no
ml system of Reform, and it was proposed to
with particular places as they were then about to
with Pentyn. Formerly all general Reform was
silted as of too sweeping a nature, and n-iw the p
Baronet (Sir John Newport) opposed the partial r
ciple of Reform which was so fashionably prer
He (Mr. H.) however, hoped the Hon. Memt
Stewart) would persevere in his motion, and pus
sincerity of this House to the test.
Mr. WARBURTON objected to the dame.:
no reason why either the electors or the representatnt
of Manchester should be placed in kdifferent skulk
from others.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, if the dame were lorit
upon as good in principle, it should be generally
plied—(Hear, hear.) The same tight of voting
prevail at Manchester as in every ether place
kingdom. It would lower the character of the
that there should be any thing secret in the
electing their Representatives, and to any clause
such an object, he was decidedly opposed.
Mr. HUME asked if it would lower the di,
the House to have Members elected by ballot:
system prevailed in electing Committees in the HI
He hoped the clause would not be pressed at kr
but that the Hon. Member would take an opport
of urging it on Monday next.
Mr. PEEL said, that Election Committees only
appointed by ballot.—(Several Members dissented,
He was not at present aware of any other. If the '
Gentleman alluded to the putting of names int
green glasses, and taking one out, that was :moth,
ease, and he did not apprehend that that system
be recommended for Manchester. If the allusion
to the voting in Committees, there was no ins“
that having been done for the last five or six
With respect to the clause before the Committee,
gave the Boroughreeve the right of being a candi
as he was the returning officer, such a provision di
appear desirable. The Sheriffs of counties were
vented from being candidates on that account, at
thought the returning officer, in the case of -
ought not to be an exception.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, that his reason for
to the Boroughreeve the right of being a candi
MU that that officer was appointed by .the Lord of
Manor, and he might appoint a person havin7., ti
known intention of offering himself as a candidate,
thereby prevent him from doing so. With 'ear,
the declaration proposed by the Honourable
be objected to it, because it would not be requiri
Members sitting for other place..
Mr. WYNN said that the Crown possessed -
alluded to by the Noble Lord, in the case of
Counties, and yet no evil had ever been found to
from it. He taw no reason for making an -
and perhaps the Noble Lord's object would be best e
fected by giving the right to avoid the office, upe
payment of a fine.
Sir J. SCARLETT saw no good reason for making
this an exception to the general rule of not allowini
the Returning Officer to be a Candidate. With regar,
to the declaration against bribery and corruption, if
there was in the whole country any one place less than
another where corrupt influence was likely to have effect,
it was Manchester, both as regarded the extent of its
population and its independence. He therefore fa el 00
necessity for requiring such a declaration, having no fear
that the wishes of the majority of the voters would be
overruled by corrupt influence.
Sir G. PHILLIPS said, that the Boronghreeve set
appOinied by the Court Leet, the Members of eihielt
were named by the Steward of the Lord of the Mao%
An influence might therefore he exercised in appoints!l
a particular individual, who was known to be intenclA
as a Candidate, and on that account be wished tote
the clause preserved.

After one or two observations from Sir J. ficaaarre and Mr.
STRVART, the Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the Motion I—Against it 190—Majority-119.
The House:mined, and Report was ordered to be receivedel
Monday.

On our return to the Gallery, a Bill for Watching and WWI
certain Market Towns in Ireland was before the House.—ltestli
first time, and ordered to be read a second rime on the igth Apnl

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