Star.
London, England, 1826-12-08 00:00:00

HODS; OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER announced to the House that a Petition had
bees forwarded to him by the Clerk of the Hamper Once in Ire-
land. complaining of an undue Return for the Comity of Limerick.
The Petition against the Return of Mr. Lloyd was then read,
and ordered to be taken into consideration on loth te February.
A new Writ was ordered to be Issued foe the election of a Mem-
ber to serve for the University of Cambridge, in the room of Sir
J. Copley, 7aq accepted the office of Master of the Rolls.
New Writs were also ordered to be issued for the election of a
Bares to serve in Parliament for the Claque Port of Hastings. is
the mom of Sir C. Wetherall, appointed to the uflice of his Ma.
Attorney-Grnetal; and Sir W. Curtis, who accepted the
&ewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.
On the motion of Mr. Seems, a Writ was ordered to be issued
for the election of a Member for Stafford in the room of Mr. Iron-
monger. deceased.
Mr. PALLMEIt gave notice, that soon after the recess, be
should move for leave to bring la a bill to consolidate and amendi
the laws relating to Savings' Banks, and that he should at the same,
time move for have to bring in a bill to facilitate and residue
County and other Provident institutions.

General GASCOYNE brought in a Bill foe she purpose of
supplying Liverpool with water.—Read a ant time.
Mr. JAMES BROWNE rose to give notice of a motion which
he Wended to make after the holidays, respecting an alteration
in the Election Law of Ireland. The Hon. Gentleman urged the
great importance of the subject as deeply affecting the best interests
of the country, and tbereforswell worthy the serious attention of Par.
Bement. The House, be said, had heard much concerning the abuses
committed at contested election, but he was prepared to state facts,
and unfold a tale of circumstances, which had occurred at an un-
contested election, that he was convinced would be decisive as to
the expediency, and even the'necessity of modifying the law so as
to obviate the recurrence of the abuses to which he alluded.
Sir R. VIVIAN moved for Returns of the Quantity of Copper
imported into England, and also of that imported into London and
Liverpool, and exported from the same since the sth of January,
180.4.—Ordered.
Mr. A—DAWSON presented a Petition from the Roman Catho-
lic Inhabitants of the united Parishes of Laurance and Philipstowo,
In the County of Louth, praying for Emancipation. The disabili.
tits, he said, under which his Majesty's Catholic subjects laboured,
were at-once contrary to the Treaty of Limerick and the principles
of the Constitution, as established in the Revolution of 16SS.--.The
Petition was ordered to be printed.

Sir J. GRAHAM presented a similar Petitionfrom the Roman
Catholics of the County of Wezford.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. R. MARTIN presented several similar Petitions from the
Roman Catholics of various parts of Galway. Some of these, he
conceived, furnished abundant refutatiou to an insinuation fre-
quently urged, though Without any ground whatsoever, namely, that
the Catholic peasantry of Ireland were not anxious for e
don, and that they were perfectly indifferent as to the event. 'the
means taken to compel the attendance of Catholic children at Pro-
testant schook he regarded as a most proillie source of discord;
and he was quite sure more mischief had been don* in Ireland by
the acts of the Kildare-street Society than cossid4e repaketwithla
the next fifty years. He thought it would be well if at least half
uc alit
die fonds of that Association were so allocated as to ord the poor',
Catholics an opportunity of selecting a mode of ad in which
they could conscientiously participate—(Hear, hear). . Nothing
was more calculated to excite a rebellion in Ireland than the pre-
sent coercive plan so injudiciously and so &stunt* pursued.—
He took occasion to observe that a charge made on the Catholic
Clergy of Ireland, as threatening refractory voters with ezconunn-
nicatien, was utterly without foundation. In one instance, a
Clergyman, who was well affected to kis (Mr. Martin's) interest,
prevented some of his tenantry from registering their Freeholds,
supposing (though erroneously) that they did not possess the pro-
perty required by law.
The Petitions, which were froth Castle Blakawy, Tuns, and
Oranmere, were ordered to be printed.
Colonel TRENCH gave notice of a Motion, after the recess, foe
leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the exercise of the Elective
Franchise in Counties in Ireland. The Bill, he said, would be con-
ceived in nearly the same terms as a similar one brought in last year
by the Hon. Member for Staffordshire. The only difference would
be in the last paragraph, which should contain a provision likely to
render the whole measure in contemplation acceptable to the people
of Ireland. _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ -

HUME presented Petitions from the Dyers of Boling, and
the Inhabitants of Lynn, Bradford, and EccieshaU, in Yorkshire,
praying for a Repeal of the Corn Laws.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. WOOD presented Petitions from the Inhabitants of Horton
and Bradford, praying for some measure of relief in their present
stateof-distress. The condition, be said, of the poor Weavers was
truly deplorable. Some of them 'were obliged to work sixteen
hours a day for 6s. 6d. a week. The state of poor agriculturists,
he admitted, from a combination of unfortunate circumstances,
were not much better. In this misfortune, however, the weavers
generally shared, for they were most .f them owners of small free-
holds. They bad suffered in this respect te the amount of 50 per
Cent. in their capital from bad crops, the drought of the past sea.
son, and the derangement of' the currency. He regretted that
Ministers should defer their measures respecting the Corn Question
till after the reeestu—The Petitions were ordered to be printed.

/TATO OP THE CUVaCH..
Sir T. ACLAND presented a Petition from James Ivory Hodes,.
praying the House to take into consideration the whole &am deb,
Church, and to correct the abuses connected with plurality of liv-
ings, and the non-residence of beneficed Clergymen.
After a few words from Mr. Hum, in support of the Petltion,it
was ordered to be printed.
Mr. J. SMITH presented Petitions from the Inhabitants of Del-
vin and another parish in the County of Mayo, praying fox Catholic
Eat:ancipation:—Oidertd to be printed.
EMIGRATION.

Mr. WILMOT-HORTON presented a Petition tram the
In-
habitants of Glasgow, in favour of Etnigratian.
Mr. H U ME thought it of great importance to the Country. that
the intentions of his blajesty's Ministers should be declared and set-
tled on this subject. He knew there was no one more anxious to
forward the interests of the poorer classes than the Hoe. Gentle-
man who presented the Petition.
Mr. WILMOT-HORTON said that he saw no gassible good
that would arise from the immediate declaration of tke intentions of
Ministers. He expressed his intention of making a mottos on the
subject on the 15th of February.
Al r. A BERCROM BY hoped that the next Spring would Pot be
suffered to pass away without the introduction of some measure of
relief. Ha considered that but little had been done by farmer
Committees, and he trusted that the next Committee would be more
effective.

Mr. WILMOT-HORTON said that the tut Committee had
most usefully exerted itself is culkcting a great mass of evidentv,
which would now be highly availible to the object in view. He
did expect that some decided measure would be taken in the course
of the next Spring.
Mr. J. SMITH spoke in praise of the exertions of the Coto-
mince, from which he said he bad always formed the mom san.
Flint hopes.
' Sir J. GRAHAM deplored the wretched state to
which a population must be reduced when it was an
object with them to be permitted to go into exile. The
ttate of the country must be unhappy indeed when
Miuisters entertained the proposal of sending away
numbers of well skilled aitizans to a distant Colony,
lover which our future do.teinton was but precaripus.

It was indeed a measure directly eceatrary to the principle of. our
ancient law. Many causes had conspired to increase the distress of
the lower classes, particularly the weavers. But there was one
cause which perhaps was placed beyond the reach of Parliamentary
interference. That cause was the universal employment of ma-
chinery. By the mere use of the power loom, at least one half of
the poor hand-weavers were put out of employment. He hoped be-
fore the House assembled again, Ministers would employ the
recess in devising some effectual measure of relief for those unfortu-
nate persons.
Mr. WARBURTON saw a great difficulty arising
from the advancement of capital to Emigrants. Their
chief revenue must of course consist in corn, and he was not aware
that any means had been devised for converting that into a mare-
nient medium for repayment. It was a subject well worthy of
being considered.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that from the great im-
portance of the subject, they were bound to keep their
minds open, and not pledge themselves to measures
which hereafter might fetter their judgments. They
had, in the first place, to consider how far the measure
of Emigration was really available to the object it was
designed .to achieve. They had also to consider how
far the necessary arrangements were consistent with the
interests of the Colonies, and whether it was. expedient
to undertake the expense of £6l. which was the lowest
sons at which each individual could be sent out. In such
circumstances, their hopes as to the result of the con-
templated measure could not be very sanguine. It.
might however prove, in some respects,an advantageous
outlet for population to North America, and the colony
would perhaps be essentially served. He was astonished that the
Honourable Baronet should have described the condition of an
Emigrant as that of a convict sent into exile. Surely the distinction
was wide and obvious. The latter went out stigmatised with the
infamy of crime; not as a free settler, but with his labour appro-
priated to another individual. Many persons who possessed consi-
derable capital were anxious to emigrate to Canada, and happy to
receive a grant of land there. He concluded with hoping that the
House would not express any decided opinion oo the subject until
they were completely in possession of the facts and circumstances
by which their judgment should be guided.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM explained.,
Mr. MABERLY remarked that his Majesty's Minis-
ters had but a short time since, as it appeared to him,
laid down a rule which, if just, must necessarily pre-
clude the House from hoping that the country could
receive any great benefits from pursuing the system of
emigration. He alluded to the conduct they bad followed with
respect to Ireland. They bad stated that little relief could be an-
ticipated to the redundant population of. that country, from any
plan of Emigration which bad been proposed.
Mr.BENETT bigged to remark in reply to the obser-
vation. made by the Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Graham), re-
.pecting the Romans having, imported corn, that al-
though it was perfectly true that people had done so,
yet it appeared also clear, that to that very circum-
stance might, in a great measure, be attributed the
downfall of the Roman Empire. As to the Question
of Emigration, it had always appeared to him to be a
great injury to the country that her ablest artisans
should be even permitted, much less encouraged, to
leave it ; and he must confess he felt astonished that his
Majesty's Ministers had not devised some means for
putting a stop to such a ruinous system. It was cal-
culated that if the country were to promote emigration
fully, every person migrating would be a charge to the
State of 201. 'but it appeared to him that the 201. re-
(paired foreach emigrant might be much better expend-
ed at home, and in a waoo, which would afford much
more extensive relief. Why should it not be devoted to
the cultivation of Poor Lands? There were no
less than eleven millions of acres of waste lands,
and if the money were employed in ,cultivating
them instead of assisting persons to emigrate, it would
at once afford employment to labourers, and render
more active the market for Manufactures. He much
lamented that some measure had not been even hinted
at by his Majesty's Ministers for the employment and
consequent relief of the manufacturers. With respect
to Ireland thought it must be evident to every one
that quietude alone could benefit that distracted country.
As to the question, however, respecting the propriety of emigration,
be was decidedly of opinion that the longer the House delayed
from coming to a decision upon it, the better it would be for• the
country; for, should the wishes of the Honourable Member for
Montrose, and some other Hooourable Gentlemen, be adopted by
the House, there would be occasion to consider the question, not
merely Stith reference to manufacturers, but also with reference to
the agricultural labourers, who would be speedily seen requesting
assistance.

Mr. WILMOT-HORTON hoped, that the Hon.
Member who had just addressed the House, would per.
mit his name to be placed upon the Committee. If he
did so, he would have tin opportunity of stating his
plan fully; although he (Mr. Horton) apprehended
that it would be found most fallacious. The only prin-
ciple upon which emigration could for an instant be en-
couraged was this; that upon calculation it was evident
that, although an emigrant cost the country twenty pooods, still the
country. in incurring that expense, merely chose the lesser et two
evils; for, it the person provided with the means to emigrate had
remained at beam he would have cost the country a much greater
SOUL—The Petition was ordered to be printed.