Star.
London, England, 1811-04-26 00:00:00

now holden by the Bann were! seventeen
The Bank stood charged with abusing the confidence
of the Letelature. The documents he now moved for
would eit substantiate or invalidate that charge.
That House had as mods tight, were, indeed, as
strongly bound to examine into the accounts of that
corporation, as to eall for the annual list of imports
and export,' from his Majesty's Ministers. He then
moved, That there be laid before that House an Ac-
count of the Exchequer Bills held by the Bank of Eng-
land on the Ist day of January, April, July, and Oc-
tober, for each year since the Ist of January, 1797, to
the latest period same can be made up, distinguishing
the services for which they were raised, and the funds
on which they were charged.
Mr. MANNING opposed the motion. He never
before heard that the Bank stood charged with abuse
of public confidence, till lie heard it from the Hen.
Gentleman. The charge was too groundless to de-
-crve an answer. As to documents, all that could be
wanting were already before the House. The Hon.
Gentleman had truly stated the clause in the Act Of
the 33d of the King ; but be denied that it had been
•iolated by the Bank. In every Exchequer Bill Act
for the last two years, the advances on Exchequer
Bills made by the Bank, were permitted by the
vote of that House. In the appendix to the Bul-
lion Report, every necessary information could be
found ; besides that, on the sth of last January an ac-
count had been given in of all the Exchequer Bills
then holden by the Bank for Government. In the
Exchequer Bill, 50th year of the King, chapter 1,
of the three millions of Exchequer Bills then voted,
the Bank wefe permitted to advance the whole ; and,
on the 22d February, 1811, of the 14 millions, they
were permitted to advance 6-1.
Mr. MARRYATT, in reply to the Hon. Gentle-
man, said, that the reasons which he had advanced
against the Kesent motion appeared the strongest
arguments in its favour. If the whole conduct of the
Bank had been in conformity with the directions of
that House, why was there any reluctance in produ-
cing that information for which he asked ? He denied
that there was any account on the table of the amount
*of the Exchequer Bills purchased in the open mar ket.
it was thus that the Bank of England continued to
keep up the issue of notes, instead of reducing them,
and it was thus that they indemnified themselves for
the falling off of discounts. If thy Bank of England
were suffered to proceed in this system, it was impos-
sible tb foresee to what lengths they might go ; they
might reduce the 5 per cents. to 4, and the 4 per cents.
to 9, which, though an extreme case, was yet within,
the range of possibility. He thought the country was
on the brink of a precipice, and hoped the House would,
open its eyes to the danger.
Sir J. NEWPORT admitted that the special per.
mission granted by the Acts referred to by the Ho-
nourable Gentleman who spoke last, did go to recog-
nise the general permission to the Bank where it was
not specified. At the same time, he thought the House
bound to look, from time to time, with a vigilant eye
to that Body.
The question was then negatived without a division.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT put some questions across
the table to Mr. Foster, relative to certain imposts
• and duties in the Irish Wine Trade.
The House resolved itself into a Committee on the
Acts relating to Glass.—The House then resumed,
and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow.
On the motion of Mr. FOSTER, the second reading
pf the Southern Whale Fishery Bill was put off till
Monday next.
OD the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Excite-
VMS; the Irish Ships Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed to-morrow.
The second reading of the Eagle Insurance Bill
was postponed till Tuesday next.—Adjourned.