Star.
London, England, 1817-06-18 00:00:00

BANK Arr Ala.

Mr. GRENFELL, after stating that he thought it
necessary to call the attention of the House to the last
transactions with the Bank, moved for an account of
the number of Bank-notes in citculavon on the Ist
and 15th of each month, from June, 1815, to June,
1817, and other papers.—Ordered.

XF. GifirJL.

Mr. BENNETT prerented a Petition from several
Debtors in the London side of the New Prison, in
Whitecross-street, complaining of the very limited
time allowed them to receive their friends, being only
during four hours on week days, and two henry ori
Sundays. The Petitioners complained also of the
monopoly that was established against them in the
hale of provisions; of the extreme severity of the
rules imposvd on them by the Board of Aldermen ;
and preying for the interference and protection of
the House.

A similar Petition was presented from the Debtors
in the Middlesex side of the same prison. They were
both ordered to be printed.
The LORD MAYOR considered he was rather
awkwardly placed in having to address the House for
the first time, in defence ot the conduct of the Court
of Aldermen. His Lordship stated, that since he
had the honour of serving Sheriff much arrangement
had taken place, and that the prisoners had from
Newgate Iwo removed to this prison, for the purpose
of quashing, if possible, even the name of Newgate to
a debtor. Every attention had been paid by himself
and the succeeding Sheriffs to accommodate the
debtors in this prison, and the Committee on that pri-
son had made every exertion of which they were ca-
pable. True it was that certain rep,ulations had been
adoi•ted, but they had been so adopted, as he could
assure the House, from a cons iction of their indispen-
sible necessity. In the Petition some allusion had
been made to the place whence the prisoners got their
beer. hives the House must see it was impossible the
Court of Aldermen cot:ld interfere here; and he
should only farther acid., that he spoke the sentiments
of all his Ccnstitecnts and the public, when be said
there was nut a City in the kingdom which was more
burdened w.th the expense of supporting prisoners,
and which at the same time did there prisoners so
much justice—(Hear, hear.)—He had to regret that
this unpleasant topic should have been the cause of
his having bad the honour for the first time to ad-
d:css the House, but the rights of the City of Lon-
don, the rights of human nature, were, and he hoped
ever should be, dear to him and all who sat in that
Huse— (Loud crier cf Hear, hear, hear.) It was thus
only the House could maintain that respect it ought
tc receive from the country—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BENNETT understood that although the
prisoners were admit:tql to see their friends, it Seas
only through a grating, and not within the walls of
the prison. Indeed, as far as he could learn, it was
one of the worst regulated prisons in the kingdom.
The LORD MAYOR explained, and again de-
clared that the Corporation of London had thewn in
every instance the most liberal attention to prisoners—
(Hear,
hear.)
The'Petit►on was then ordered to lie on the table.
PETITIONS OZ THI COVENTRY WATCH•MAYSRS AND

SI ANUIPACTUREIts.
Mr. PETER MOORE said he presented three
Petitions from his very much distressed constituents,
the inst.:lion: and skilful artisans in the watch busi-

'nem of Coventry, describing their distresses (if char
be described) in terms rending the beaus af
mankind with their sufferings—the result of the pre.
sent times—the decay of general trade—and the war;
of employment, whereby to obtain bread for then.
selves and families; and praying relief from the w;,.
dom and humanity ef the House. He (Mr. Miaor-I
would reserve his general sentiments for a future op..
portunity, save now briefly to state, that the rhea.
tion of the Petitioners was little thort4 destitutier;
that after most honourably sustaining each other at a
fraternity, as long as C.ey could find the means, th::r
necessities had so grown that they were at ler ztj
compelled to resort to parish relief, and the hear'':::
of menial offices, as 44y-tabourer', carriers rf bur.
dens, sweepers of the tartlets, and even the erni-yrig
of night soil. " In short, So," said t/-• Moors,
whose feelini?,s appeared in unison with t; air r•PFer-
ings, st the art is in danger of being I.ist, ti,e
petitioners of being the fact of those art r.ar,
hitherto maintained themselves, their tanii:lei. 31
even their fraternity, in lienistre and credit,
aerially contributed to support the state."
Mr. BUTTERWORTH conthmed the statena: t
of his Honourable colleague respecting :Iv: (3+,::.:.s
of the people of Coventry.—The retitrun was J... 1
on the Table.

HAIM %!,
Sir JOHN C. EGI4',ItTON presented a ret;t7ess
from the Cast of Chester Ag!tni: the crenira4i.c.: of
the Habeas Corpus Sus;seution Act, very num. virit,7
sign. d. Sir Jtfin also presented a :emu! n
tram the City at Chester. depseesmig the coi.d,
nation of a measure be:ore the evi.fchee u..ich
it is founded can be kniswn, and ne-
cessity of strengthening the hawk of G f r., ,ten;.
In the prayer et tin, last Peti,ion Sir Jot L. uric's!.
SC 11.11 Z'i'!CES.
Mr. GILDER V, on moving rha •,• How
should resolve itself into a Cons,, i.
Office Re,gulation bill, stated that • creasy
to introduce some alteration; in the B.: It wt,:
lound on inquiry that the otriee cit Justice ,
Scotland could not be abolished without cautirg
some very considerable inconvenience in the :Wawa.
stration or law in that country. The krivy Seal and
Sigiict Offices alsa undergl some i;a4ticu.s
in respect of the salaries attached to (turn.
Lord CASTLEREAGH, confirming the state-
ment of the Hon. Gentleman, said, that in can: a va-
cancy should meta in the office or Justice General,
no appointment should b: nl it!e to preveht the psi-
per regulatinn of it.
Mr. TIE R NE Y alluded to the offiee of Vice Mini-
sal of Scotland, to uhich a salary of ‘lllOOO or 41.1290
a-year was attached. No one could, however, in-
form him from what fund this salary was paid I bet
he understood it was comprised within the v. to ter
the Nay:- Estimates. He thou ;ht that of • and that
of Muster Master Genera,, mipht
Lord CAiTLEREAGF. said that the vas
founded altogether on the principle of uphuldil vet..
ted interests.

Mr. TIERNEY. observed, that a eonsideral.:e eir-
ference existed between vested and merely eisting
interests. Wile re places were held tar hie, the
reward of civil or military service., he should r.ct
touch them ; but where they were held at v
oat such claim, he saw no fCAii:nr, if suet, paces west
useless, 'shy the principle of tiv r a should net he'
once enforced by their abolition.
Mr. GILBER r--It did not belong to the 7finme
Committee to recommend Parliament to deprive per-
sons of offices—their object was to regulate or abo.i:ll
them on the termination of present interests. Such a
measure would appear to him a great hardship.
Mr. TIEItNLY—The hardship was such as all
persons holding offices at pleasure were liable tn.
The 13.11 dech.rcd that the office of Muster-Planet.
General WaS unnecessary. and oug!it to be at,,iiisl,ed
on the expiration of the vested interest. New, It !:r
could :hew that there was no vester! interest, tM
office should be abolished at once. The mere cir-
cumstance of its being hilt, by a persen, d.d no:
create a vested interest. As well might the Ikeitilt
Lord fancy himself possessed of a reared interest is
his office of Secretary of State, b. cause he was ^lli
fortuuate enough to possess it; but still the :suble
Lord would not consider himself Secretary for
If a change of Ministry tor.k place, the Muster-
Master-General was likely to Joie .11.. a; and d
were abolished, it would constitute a t:oii.g to the
Public of four or sEiXiilo a year.
Mr. GILLERT—" Tin Lill did no.. strcapihee
such offices, it merely left theru in the unit: state as
It no such hill were enacted."

Mr. TIERNEY hopedthe case of ti.e
Ma.-ter•General's office would be inquired into. ee
then gave notice, that he E:kotild take the 'else of the
Holy.e on the bringtng up of the Report of tl;fr
HG could not d.signate the me.sure in any !ems
but as au indecent attempt of Ministers, atter
repeated professions of economy, to
.secore to ther
friends large sums of money. He was surprised .v
sear the Honourable Chairman of the Coancittet
(Mr. Gilbert) support such a Bill, now that ::c sri.d
an opportunity of understanding its nature.
The hill was then committed, and tbe keport 0!-
dried to be brought up on l'huridJi.