Star.
London, England, 1818-03-14 00:00:00

UNDER THE SUSPENSION ACT.

,LY rose to present a Petition from
of Chester, whose case he had
e mine of his observations upon
The petition did, he perceived,
pects from t!..e statement which ap-
cster nen Taper, but that statement

:erred with the 'petitioner in all ma-
is ry.,ttion was forwarded to an Ho-
of his, in order to be presented,
Remilly) alluded to the case in that
lonoorable Friend (Mr. Bennet, we
i•revented from attending the
-I(,,!•ic calamity, had sent it to him
ace 't presented. He now proposed
on brought tap, in order to have it
What might become of this pe-
co,lld not pretend to say. Ile did
c::tFerings of the poor petitioner,
his wits and child, might not he
menirnent to enliven some future
,:r, on the Opposition Benches.)
'as read, and the statement which it
substance the same as we reported

In the speech of Sir S. Rotnilly on Widnesday night.
—The Petition was ordered to lie on the table, as
was another Petition from Andrew Somerville, of
Glasgow, complaining of unjust arrest and rigorous
imprisonment, under the Suspension IA the Habeas
Corpus Act—adding, that afterbeing five months de-
tained in prison the Petitioner was dischargedwithout
any trial.
The Hon. W. LYTTLETON presented a Petition
from certain Attorneys of Worcestershire, against the
admission of unqualified Conveyancers.—Ordered to
lie on the table.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Sir G. CLERK, afte. adverting to the Bill which
he brought forward two years since, upon the sub-
ject of Weights and Measures, and which was nega-
tived in the House of Lords, took occasion to ask,
whether the Commission of the Royal Society, which
it was then proposed to appoint for ascertaining a
proper standard, had yet been nominated ? He under-
stood this appointment was not made, and that some
difficulty existed upon the subject, which difficulty
was not likely to be removed. If so; he thought it
right to announce his intention of bringing forward
a motion on this question after the recess.
Mr. B. BATHURST said, that he was not able
to answer the Hon. Baronet's question, but that he
would make enquiry into the subject.
INDEMNITY BILL.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the Order
of the Day for the third reading of the Indemnity Bill.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT rose to propose the amend-
ments of which he had given notice. The first re-
ferred to a principle which was recognized in the
preamble of the Bill, but for which there was no
corresponding provision in the Bill itself. In the
preamble it was recited as follows : " Whereas some
of the said acts done may not have been strictly jus-
tifiable in law, but being done for the preservation
of the public peace and safety, it is fit that the per•
sons doing the same should be saved harmless in re-
spect thereof." To the principle of this passage he
was quite ready to assent ; for it was but just that an
act done for the public safety should be entitled to
indemnity. But then upon whom in equity should.
the loss, occasioned by that indemnity, fall ? Whe-
ther should the individual, who had unjustly suf.
fered, be condemned still more to suffer, by being
deprived of redress and of his right of action, or
should the damages awarded by any verdict upon
that action be paid from the public purse ? Accord-
ing to the indisputable principles of common justice
it would appear, that any expense or damage Incur-
red by an act done for the public safety should ra-
ther be defrayed from the public purse than from the
purse of the individual who had unjustly suffered
through that act. It was, indeed, clear and demon-
strable, that where an individual was called upon to
suffer for the public safety, the price of that suffer-
ing ought not to be paid by that individual, but by
the public at large. If then this principle were ad-
mitted, and he saw no ground upon which it could
he disputed, he could not anticipate any valid objec-
tion to the amendment which he was about to pro-
pose. This amendment he was urged to bring for-
ward, not only because its principle was good in
theory, but because he felt its adoption to be neces-
sary from experience. He had seen much of the
consequence of Indemnity Acts in Ireland. Two
Indemnity Acts were passed by the Parliament of
that coisatry-is 1798, and he could speak of thelf
effects, not from the information of others, but from
what he himself had witnessed. For what, indeed,
he was about to state, he could pledge his honour
and veracity as a Gentleman. It related to the case
of an honest and respectable trader, who was robbed
of his property by an Act of Indemnity, and that
case was enough to convince any candid man, that
if an individual suffered for the public safety, the
price of that suffering should be defrayed from the
public purse. In the course of the year 1798, Mr.
Matthew Scott, a. respectable and affluent corn-fac-
tor, of Carrick-on-Suer, in the county of Tipperary,
was taken into custody by the well-known Thomas
Judkin Fitzgerald, upon a charge of sending corn to
the rebels at Ross. This charge was preferred against
Mr. Scott upon the evidence of a common informer,
of the name of Devaney, whom Lord Avanmore,
upon a subsequent trial, pronounced one of the most
perjured and infamous villains that ever appeared in
a Court of Justice. Mr. Scott utterly denied the
charge, demanded a trial, and bail to the amount of
100,0001. was offered to Fitzgerald for his appear-
ance upon any prosecution that might be instituted
against him. But this offer, which he could affirm
to have been made, as his (Sir John Newport's) bro-
'ther was one of those who proposed to become bail,
was peremptorily rejected by Fitzgerald, and Mr.
Scott was dragged to the jail of Clonmel. Yet, after
being detained five or six days in duress, he was of-
fered his discharge upon giving 20,000/. bail to be
forthcoming when called upon. With this proposi-
tion, however, Mr. Scott refused to comply, observ-
ing to Fitzgerald, " you have blasted my character
and deranged my trade in the country, by accusing
: and arresting me upon a charge of being connected
with rebels ; I therefore demand a trial, in order that
my innocence may be proved and my reputation re-
deemed."
The injury, indeed, done to Mr. Scott
was such, that he became bankrupt, particularly
through a fall which had taken place in the price of
corn, against the consequence of which he might
have guarded, if at liberty to attend to his business.
Yet this Gentleman was liberated from his imprison-
ment without any trial whatever, and without being
aware at the time upon whose information he was
committed, for he was never confronted with his ac •
cuser. Upon his liberation, Mr. Scott brought an
action against Fitzgerald, but of the right of obtain-
ing any redress he was robbed by the Act of Indem-
nity. Thus a man mJst grievously oppressed was
precluded from obtaining any legal redress in conse-
quence of an Act of Indemnity, and such a case al-
lorded a strong lesson to the House to guard against
the repetition of similar injustice, by providing that'
if an individual suffered for the public safety, the
public purse should pay the price of that safety. But
he could quote many other cases of still greater in-
justice—of indeed unexampled atrocity and barba-
rity, from the period of Irish history to which he
referred. Ile spoke upon this subject with some feel-
ing of reluctance, because at the period to which he
referred, the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) was the Mi-
nister of Ireland. He acquitted the Noble Lord of
knowingly countenancing such acts. But it was to
be recollected, that after the atrocities related of

Vittgerald had been perpetrated, the Act at trident.'
nity to screen him front the consequence of these
atrocities was passed by the Irish Parliament :4ltay,
that after those atrocities were fully proved upon se-
veral trials in the Irish COurts of Justice, Fitzgerald
was created a Baronet, and granted the favour of
raising a Regiment, by which Fitzgerald himself
boasted that he had realized several thousand pounds.
Why, then, should such a man be indemnified? He
really believed that the Acts of indemnity then voted
by the Irish Parliament served to seal its own ruin ;
that its character was so completely and irrevocably'
sacrificed in the estimation of the Irish people by /
these acts, that its extinction soon afterwards excited
no regret whatever in the public mind. Even after, I
indeed, those Acts were passed, the Irish people
shrunk the Parliament, and were ready to seek pro-
tection from such a body in any other Government
whatever. It was, indeed, the general belief among
considerate men in Ireland, ihat if it were not for
these Acts of Indemnity, the Union would not have
been carried. Nay, many were forward to say that
the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) pressed the adoption of
these Acts with a view to render the Parliament un-
popular, in order to carry the Union, but he would
r.ot say so. From the odium, however, which at-
tached to the Irish Parliament in consequence of
those Acts, which so completely severed the people
from it, he exhorted the House to beware of pursu-
ing a similar course—(hear, hear !) Another amend-
ment which he proposed was, to recognize by a dis-
tinct provision that which some of the advocates of
the Bill so readily avowed, namely, that persons in-
flicting undue rigour in the arrest or imprisonment
of any individual under the Suspension Act, should
not be screened by the measure before the House.

If the Gentlemen who made the avowal alluded to
were candid, he could not conceive any ground upon
which they could consistently oppose such an Amend-
ment. After expressing a wish to know what was
meant in the Bill by the words " advised to be done,"
which words were inserted in one of the Indemnity
Acts passed in 1801, namely, that for England, the
Right Hon. Baronet proposed his first Amendment,
that any damages which a Jury might award to any
one proved to have unjustly suffered in consequence
of arrest or imprisonment, or other injury, for the
public safety, within the period mentioned in the
Bill, should be paid out of the public purse. The
Right Honourable Baronet concluded by observing,
that it was his intention, if the House did not adopt
his amendments, to move the recommittal of the Bill.
The SPEAKER observed, that he knew of no case
in which a Bill was recommitted after the order for
its third reading, and he believed that such a mo-
tion would be rrregtdar ; but it was open to the Right
Honourable Baronet to move his amendments upon
the motion that the Bill do pass.
After a few words from Mr. W. C. WYNN upon
the point of Order,
Sir JOHN NEWPORT postponed the proposition
of his Amendment until the stage mentioned by the
Speaker.

- 'After a conversation across the table between Sir
WILLIAM BURROUGHS, Lord CASTLEREAGH, and
Mr. BATHURST, in which the two latter Noble and
Honourable Members declined stating whether or nut
'they would object to the Amendment of Sir JOHN
NEWPORT, until in form before the House, it was uu-
derstood that the question for the third reading of
the Bill should then be put..
On the questiOn• being put from the Chair,
Sir R. HERON said, that he could not allow that
last opportunity to pass without avowing his decided
opposition to this most unjustifiable Bill and to every
measure connectred with it. He had too sincere a
veneration for the Constitution of his country—a
Constitution that had carried the nation through the
most stormy periods of its history, not to feel satisfied
that the laws were sufficiently strong to preserve it
and the people who lived under it. What security
had the people of England for the future against fre
quent invasions of their personal freedom? The same
pretext that was now made subservient to the designs
of the Ministers would always present themselves.
Such a case of justification as they made out•was at
all times in their power, because there never was, and
probably never would be, a period in which men of
profligate morals and ruined fortunes would not be
found engaged in some desperate projects against the
public tranquillity. When his Majesty's Ministers
had determined on manifesting their mark of dis-
pleasure against the country, why had they not the
manliness to go at once to the extent of their sevei it i?
why divide their system, and do half by anticipation
and half by retrospection ? When the Suspension
Act was opposed on the ground of possible abuse,
the argument was, that the aggrieved would have
their remedy. When the abuse was alleged in Peti-
tions on the table, the answer was---:t Bill of Indent-
nity—(Hear, hear!) It was thus that Ministers kept
their solemn pledges. Jt was by expedients such as
these the people were to be mocked, and defrauded
of the protection of the Constitution. But it was
even now recommended, though the loyalty of the.
country had been and was untainted, to persevere in
the same vigilance—in other words, in the same
abuses. Why, then, repeal the Suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act? There was just as true a
ground now for that severity as when it was last Ses-
' sion adopted. Now that a dissolution was approach-
ing, it became the object of Ministers, by mean en-
deavours and miserable subterfuges, to hold them-
selves out to the timid and the pusillanimous as the
protectors of the property of the countrv—tHerze.)—
Let Ministers not deceive themselves. Public opinion
in this country had passed its childhood and reached
maturity ; and to that opinion, soundly and firmly
expressed, he would leave it, to appreciate the con-
duct of his Majesty's Government.
The House then divided on the third reading of
the Bill—Ayes, 82—Noes, 23—Majority, 59.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT rose to propose his clause
in form. If Ministers were sincere, they cntild hale
no objection to have the meaning of Parliament placed
beyond ail doubt. His object was to prevont indem-
nification where any traduc or excesive rigour had
been exercised.
The ATTORNEILGENERA I. considered the
Clause perfectly unnecesary, as the present Bill did
not indemnify any excess of rigour, that was not
warranted by the law or the circumscances. A sireilar
Amendment was proposed to the Indemn:ty Bill of
' 1801, but.was opposed on the same grounds.
Mr. PETER MOOR E, wheth4 he conceived the
71objea of the Amendment correctly or not, in sup-

pottig that ebißpOristit43ll 01101 to iftiste t 3 the
suffereri Out of the Seeret Service, still was of opinion
that some corittoul ought to be placed over the odor.'
mous and wicked provisions of the present 8i11...
Would the House hesitate to afford even so remote A
security to the aggrieved People ? Had they no
sympathy but for Spies and Informers, and that bat.
tard system, now to be engrited on the Conititiadort,
which the legitimacy of England disowned—(hear) ?
Mr. W. SMITH stated, that he would apply the
case of the petitioner Ogden to the clause now pro•
posed by his Right Honourable Friend (Sit John
Newport). He seas aware that it had already called
forth the derision of a Right Honourable Gentleman
(Mr. Canning); but when he considered the age of'
that man, seventy-four years, and the infirmities un-
der which he laboured, he could not help thinking,
that to indulge in derision, excited by such causes,
Was not a very enviable display—(hear, hear.) He
put the man's guilt or innocence wholly out of the
present question. He did not care whether the in-
firmity of the man had existed previbusly to his ar-
rest, or was the consequence of his ill treatment; /et
them take either alternative, and he would still con-
tend, that if Ogden was in that dreadful state of
health before his arrest, it was an extreme of rigour
to have subjected him to the heavy ironing, which was
sure to aggravate the agony, and the man who in-
flicted it thus iinnecess trily ought to be punished—
But if the disease was the result of the torture, nu
punishment could be too severe—(hear, hear, hear).—
Now the question he wished to put to his Honourable
Friend the Attorney-General was this—Could Nadin,
the person who so heavily ironed Ogden, •plead the
present Act of Indemnity against an indictment:—
An answer in the negative from such an authority
would go a great way—(No, no, from the Oppositici:
—although his Honourable Friends were mistaken,
if they imagined he would accept that admission in
preference to the clause of his Right Hon. Friend.
Lord CASTLEREAGH felt, that if the clause
was not absolutely necessary, it might lead to the
introduction of difficulties at present not. contem-
plated. It would be dangerous to introduce qualifi-
cations to the general principle, as special provisoes
might raise doubts in other cases. The law had been
laid down by his Honourable and Learned Friend
(the Attorney-General) with a precision--(hear, hear,
front Si, S. Itomilly and others)—that could not be
disputed. It was a great mistake to consider the
present Bill as undefined. It was limited to distinct
cases-the detention of persons, the seizure of arm:,
and of persons in tumultuous meetings.
Mr. SMYTH observed, that it was true, accord-
ing to the law, unnecessary and excessive rigour
could not be justified ; but the question was as to Cite
construction which might be put on the words, all
acts and proceedings," in the preamble. To prevent
any improper construction, it could do no harm to
express the intention of the Legislature more clearly.
Mr. BATHURST said. the Bill of 1801 was pre-
cisely the same as the present Bill ; and the Bill of
1801 was construed in the same manner as the At-
torney-General construed the present Bill. With re-
spect to Ogden, it appeared from his own stateme.a
that when committed to prison, he was afflicted wit's
a dangerous and painful disease. The surgical at-
tendance which he received whilst .in conttneme-t
was so beneficial to him, that he declared, on
discharge, he had been cured of a complaint under
which he had laboured for upwards of 20 years ; and,
„to use his own phrase, felt himself a new man.
Mr. LYTTLETON was of opinion the Act, as it
nosy stood, was liable to the objection made by the
Right Hon. Baronet, who brought forward his clause.
The House were net to be carried away by the argu-
ments and quibbles of Lawyers ; and especially by
the Crown Lawyer, a person in the pay of the
Crown. The House should be guided by common
sense ; and common sense would put this interpre-
tation upon the Bill. The present clause was.a test
for Ministers. If they did not intend to protect the
guilty, they wouhl without hesitation adopt the clause
now proposed. He considered the whole proceeding
on this Bill as a farce of the most impertinent descrip-
tion. The enquiry instituted into the conduct of
Ministers, was a mere mockery of the public, and the
Bill itself a measure of the greatest injustice.
Sir S. RONIILLY said the Act went to indemnify
for " any matter or thing" done for the purpose of
confining persons charged with certain practices.—
Ile did not see, therefore, how an action could be
maintained that should be brought against a. person
Mr any act that had been done for such a purpose.
If it should be argued in a Court of Law, that any
" necessary" act was meant, the Court would ask
why the word " necessary" had not appeared in the
I Bill' He most conscientiously did not believe that
' such a construction would be put upon the Act as
his Learned Friend had anticipated. The Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman (Mr. Bathurst) had said, the
opinion given in that Ilouse was strengthened by the
circumstance of its having come from the Noble Lord
now at the head of the law, who was then Attorney-
General. But was lie then at the head of the law ?
He was not, and. the Noble Lord would not now
hold himself to be bound as Judge to the opinion he
delivered then as Attorney-General. If it was intended
only to indemnify for such apprehensions and deten-
tions as were necessary to secure the persons who ha
been confined, let the word "necessary" be introduced
into the Bill, and lie would give up the clause.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL considered the ar-
gument of the Learned Gentleman to go thus—that
die Bill yens to be conide!ed as it now stead, to have
the sante meaning as if, iipo cad of wanting the word
• necessary," it contained the word " unnecessary."
He held that all " unnecessary" acts of rigour would
be protected by the Ili:I as it at present stood. This
was the whole argument on the other side of the
Howe. But he was Of opinion no lawyer could con-
tend with any hopes of success that such was really
the meaning of the Ile obj,:cted to the clause
proposed, because it went to put it into the heads of
people that acts were proved to have been committed
which were denied, and it might be the cause of
acti:ms be.ing br,,....ght which otherwise would never
be t?,o,ti.;ht of by :ho-.e supposed to he aggr'eved.
Mr. I3lt011(ii1.01 was surprised at the argu-
mcnt ct his lion. Friend who had just sat down, .He
had said, that th.,re ()ugh., to be no difference ero.wpai-s
n:on on this; ; but When it was proposed to
son:e eY.:shntatery words, be*ltaid, no, it
would be su7erfluo us, it wcnid be tanto:og),, it
stiyht,..tge, and p:t lealy unaecessary.
.11. w long
w it I !tad adopted this (muse efia.:-

•
o be side t 3 the
-s.‘. ',F.&l,*, ;*'., 's''i..,.';:iis'l'l4'C\l''',..; 1'
al vra, of opinion
ced oiler the ester.,
he present 8i11...
even so remote A
ti Had they no
reps, and that has. 't **ti, lif ti
n the Conan-Wort,
i..,
lisolenesil—(Aear) ?
I would apply the
e clause now prod
Friend (Sit John
tad already called
urable Gentleman
idered the age or lit ,illt
the infirmities un- I 0 .
1 f ii,i:
lot help thinking, .I, . I '
,
, l
ti by such causes, .1
-(hear, hear.) He . i I I.
wholly out of the I 1
• - 4' i
I
eviOusly to his 2r-
. ,
ill treatment; /et
0
se would still con- I '$ i
• 6
dreadful state of
extreme of rigour
Toning, which was 1/ifij i .
it
,
the man who in- .
. ',
to be punished—
-1
.
of the torture, no I , tt i f
I i
/tear, hear, hearl.— 1
i.,
Y. 1 i
~
.
to his Honourable i • !
.
his—Could Nadin, 1-
Ogden, •plead the / !', 'i it
an
, }Tii
indictment:— .1 1
such an authority , 1 . - i i !
-ono the Oppositici.) . 't
ds were mistaker, • . 1
that admission in - i i
i
;In Hon. Friend. f
that if the clause
night lead to the 7
Vil 4 : ,
;sent not. content-
V' 7
I*
. Al
• introduce qualifi-
I . .'
is special provisoes t i ,
The law had been
d Learned Friend
. i
cision--(hear, hear, ' tI 1
.that could not be t
t
:e to consider the
t ,
limited to distinct
to seizure of arm:, i I ii
Lungs.*. ,ir
was true, accord- ,
I excessive rigour
estion was as to the tit 11
,\
in the words, ‘; all
mble. To prevent
Id do no harm to t, •
ature more clearly.
I of Ittl was pre- . ( •
ill ; and the Bill of
I
manner as the At-
ent Bill. With re-
his
own statew.e.:t I 1
e was afflicted wit'.:: '• ,
• 1► : • il
The surgical at-
-Ist .in conttnette-t • : i .
Y 1 . , . ..
a complaint uncle:. .•; 14 -'. 1. ' -
ds of 20 years ; and, i ,
Fa new man. ,t
union the Act, as it
ction made by the
t forward his clause.
away by the ergo- i f '. *lf
.
• * 4..
and especially by
- 'tl ~
I*
,
in the pay of the • , /
i
;uided by common 1 ' t
. put this interme-
.. 1 , ;
4. 'nt clause was.a test - .; , I•:
tend to protect the ,1 if ••-• 9 : (
ion adopt the clause ~
e whole proceeding
1,.
impertinent descrip- i
nto the conduct of •ft
AA, . • ~
f the public, and the
it injustice. t ~. *i,
: went to indemnify
• i; * *
for the purpose of
.
certain practices.—
an action could be •, , 4
~:ht against a. person r
i 4'
•
for such a purpose.
t of Law, that any
• 1,,, s
t
e Court would ask ' '''•
not appeared in the :.s 4
lid not believe that . IL: -
ut upon the Act as 1? . r; f
ed. The Right Ito- II . s '
arst) had said, the • ,
strengthened by the II) ‘ 1
min the Noble Lord 1 J.
was then Attorney- I • • '
e head of the law ?
rd would not now 1 i.; :1.
ge to the opinion he . . 1 t
Al. If it was intended 1r •
ehensions and &ten- I
1
the persons who ha
scary" be introduced ~ It 1,,
up the clause.
i
considered the ar-
i.
E
,
ii.
in to go thus—that •
t now stead, to have
-f wanting the word !
ord " unnecessary." - F , • t
acts of rigour would
1
sresent stood. This
: other side of the
D lawyc-T could con-
:hat such was really 6
i t ,
sis
j,,cted to the clause
it into the heads of
eve been committed ! i It
ht be the cause of ' • r .i.)l i ,
nay. ise wouli never 1 4. t •4
to he aggr'eved.
sriseJ ait the argu-
I just sat down, .He
no difference ofcipi- it I
it W.IS proposed to . 1.
rds, 11...- -said, no, it •
te tanto:oa,-v, it Was
:eiti.lX3'.
.M. w long . 1
.
cd this (muse efi,t.:-
1-.
I

cision, and drawn up Alts in so concise a style?—
He remembered, that Lord Kenyon had once spoken
of the penmanship of an auctioneer, for he would that
c .11 it the style of such a person ; and, according
tee
the penmanship of the framers of this Act, they were
not contented that the informations which they had
received should remain secret, but they must be also
undiscovered !—(hear, hear, hear, and laughtir.)—
But here stopped their love of conciseness; for when
a word was proposed tosbe added, which was consi•
dered substantially necessary, they turned round and
said, " No, it cannot be admitted, it is surplusage,
and would be superfluous"—(hear, hear). He could
not help thinking that if a single word were to be
introduced, and surely they could not object to the
expense of engrossing a single word, the whole doubt
which existed on the construction of this clause would
be removed. Was it too much to ask, that they should
make that clear which the Court was required to
follow ? Did his Honourable and Learned Friend
go so far as to state, that the opinion of the Lord
Chief Justice of the King's Bench, when he was
Attorney-General in that House, was now to be re-
cognized on the Bench? What use, he would ask,
could be made of that opinion out of that House ?
He should like to hear his lion. and Learned Friend
tell the Chief Justice that this opinion was to bind
him in the- Court where he sat, because he had
delivered the same opinion on a former occasion.—'
The Chief Justice would then ask, in what volume of
East's Reports is that opinion to be bund ? To which
question his Honourable and Learned Friend would
be obliged to answer—" It is not contained in any
volume of East, but is insetted in Cobbett's Parlia-
mentary Debates."—" In Cobbett's Parliamentary
Debates! who," the Chief Justice would say, " can
place any reliance on Cobbett's Parliamentary De-
bates?"—(hear, hear.) He thought this clause was
exceedingly liable to the construction which had been
put upon it by his side the House. The question was,
whether putting chains on a man was necessary for
the purpose of detaining him? if the Honourable
and Learned Gentlemen .on the opposite side were
sincere—if they did not mean to justify and indem-
nity all acts of persecution and cruelty, they could
have no objection to add the word " unnecessary,"
particularly in an Ait which was not dawn with all
the conciseness of which they boasted, and which they
might have employed on the occasion—(hear, hear.)
Mr. W. WYNNE did not think the proposed clause
, important, but had no objection to the introduction
of the word " necessary" into the Bill.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT then said he would, with
the leave of the House, withdraw his clause.
Sir W. BURROUGHS moved a clause, providing
that the Indemnity should not extend to persons ar-
rested in consequence of informations maliciously
given. He said that the question upon this clause
was very much the same as that on the clause last
debated, only that the clause which he now moved
was gill more comprehensive, and went to a much
greater length.—The clause was then brought up and
read a first time.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL said if the House
were to adopt this clause, the hest way v. ould be at
once to reject the Bill.—The clause was then rejected
without a division.
Sir WILLIAM BURROUGHS then referred to
that passage of the preamble of the Bill which stated,
that it was expedient the information on which Ma-
gistrates acted, should remain seact and undiselosed.
Sir FREDERIC FLOOD said, that the discon-
tented hearts on the other side of the House might
be satisfied without declamatory speeches made ad
captandune ntsigus—(Laughter).—This Bill was foun-
ded on a Report made by the first characters in the
ki..gdom, among whom was the Noble Secretary for
the Fuleig.n Department—(Laughter).—lie had seen
.ir stated in an Opposition Paper that the Duke of
Wellington should have been a member of that Com-
mittee. He thought he should, for. he had proved
himself the fittest of men for that pu: pose, as he had
reconciled the jarring interests of the powers of
T-
rope,Eu-
and given peace to the world. He was glad
had not been necessary to extend the Suspension Bill
to Ireland. Thanks to the people of Ireland—thanks
to the Magistrates of Ireland thanks to the excel-
lent Government of that country, which had made
the people of Ireland set an example of tranqaillity
to the people of England—(Laughter.)
The motion was then rejected without a division.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT then proposed an amend-
ment in the preamble,' setting forth that any damages
which should be awarded by a Jury against any Ma-
gistrate ot person, acting under authority, for any
commitment, they should be defrayed out of the
pubic purse.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the amend-
ment would be inconsistent with the preamble, which
set forth that no proceedings relative to the cases
ineatiened therein, should be instituted in a Court of
Justice. To insert the clause would make the pre-
-amble a collection of unintelligible nonsense.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said he intended, if the amendment
in the preamble were agreed to, to propose a corresponding
clause in the operative part of the Bill. Therefore he submitted
that duee would be neither inconsistency nor nonsense in it.
The .VTPORNEY C. ENERA I. said, that even if an opera-
tive clause to the effect mentioned by the honourable Baronet
were introduced, still there would be a total contradiction in the
preamble, if the amendment now proposed was agreed to.
Mr. W. smrrit spoke in favour of the amendment. The
principles of justice required that such an amendment should be
iotrodtwed into the Bill.
The amendment was thee rejected without a division.
Sir- W. BURROUGHS rose to propose an .onanlnient rth-
rive to cases in which houses had been broken into to seize arms
and papers without warrant. He moved that the words in the
Bill "person or persons," in the part which related to such cases,
should be omitted, for the purpose of inserting the words,
" magistrate, justice of the peace, ' Sec.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seid, the Bill, as it stood,
implied all that was intended by the amendment.
The amesidntent was then rejected without a division.
Mr. I.3ROUGI-11M moved the insertion of the words
" which may Lave been necessary,' after the words " fur, or on
account of any act, matter, or thing."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the insertion of I
these words completely unnecessary.
3lr. TIERNEY wished to correct the opinion that inserting
these words would violate a principle of law' 'since the fact was,
that this Bill violated the prir.edpie of all law. Ile therefore
wished to know whether it was too much on behalf of the Peo-
ple of England to require the introduction of two words to thew
bow far the Constitution was to be set at nought?
Mr. LOCKHART said, the rules of Common Law, which
Implied all t was contained in the words, were sufficiently
ni.derstood, ame
nd always acted on in the Courts of Law. The
words were therefore needless.
After a few words in favour of the Amendment from Mr.W.
against
the House divided--Ayes SO—Noes 10—Msjority
against ;he Ameuclinent 10.—Adjourned to Monday.

TIiE4NENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1818.
• Tull FUNDS. •

PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT TWELVE o'cLocit
Reduced shut—Cons. 78i—Cons. for Ac. 78*}
4 per Cent. shut--Navy Annuities 1051 i
India Bonds 0 95 pr.—. Exchequer Bills 11 15 pr.

The lademnity Bill was read a third time last'
night, and passed by a majority of 149 to 39:
Several Amendments were moved, but rejected. One,
in particular, had for its object, to leave a right of
action open to persons who had been treated, when
in custody, with undue rigour. An alteration of this
sort was resisted, as unnecessary ; as the Bill, it was
affirmed, would not give indemnity in any case in
w;:ich a person had bt'in subjected to unnecessary
hardships.

The Paris Papers of Tuesday and Wednesday ar-
rived this morning.
The Duke of Riemmtzu, tire Ambassadors of
Spain, of Austria, of Russia, of Prussia, of Bavaria,
and of several other Powers, grad a long conference
with the Duke of WELLINGTON on Monday. It is
said that his Grace has fixed the 22d instant for his.
departure to Cambray.
The Chamber of Peers have adopted the Project of
Law on the Recruitment of the Army by a majority
of 96 to 7t.
. A Petition has been presented to the Chamber of
Deputies in the name of a number of inhabitaqts of
Verdun, complaining that the English prisoners who
were stationed there for several years had contracted
debts, which had not been discharged, on account
of their precipitate departure, at the time of the first
invasion. They had already presented petitions on
the subject both to the English and French Govern-
ments, but had been unable to obtain any redress.
The Madrid Gazette contains at last a definitive
Edict by FERDINAND, relative to the Spanish exiles.
It banishes for ever from their country all those who
have acted under the Usurper, in quality of Coun-
sellors, Ministers, &c. all military Officers down so
the rank of Captain inclusively, who served under his
banners, and generally all who in any way abetted
the cause of the usurpation. With these exceptions
all the other fugitives are permitted to return under
certain prescribed conditions, one of which is, that
they shall fix their domicile in a determined place at
a prescribed distance from the capital and Royal
Palaces.
The Prussian Loan is stated to remain still uncon-
tluded, although the bankers of Berlin have offered
70 per cent. in money for the Government Stock.
An article from Stockholm states, that the Minis-
ters of England, Russia, Spain, and the United States,
had solicited audiences of the new KING, to congra-
tulate him on his accession. His MAJESTY intends,
t is said, to pay an early visit to Norway.
French 5 per cents, Tuesday, 67tf. 45 c.

The Duke of CAMBRIDGE will be married, early
in April, at Carrel, and is expected to arrive in this
cou:itry, with his bride, before the and of the month.
The former residence of the Duke in South Audley-
sti eet is preparing for the reception of his Royal
Highness and his illustrious Consort. Numerous
workmen are constantly employed there in the neces-
sary decorations and repairs. The stables have also
been tenanted with eight fine carriage horses, and
numerous servants are being engaged under the di-
rection of the QUEEN'S Clerk of the Stable.s.
Tuesday evening the infant son of his Excellency
the LORD LIEUTENANT of IRELAND, was chri tened
in the Grand Presence Chamber, in Dublin Castle,
by his Grace the Archbishop of TUAM. The spon-
sors were, Sir GEORGE BECKWITH, proxy for his
Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON ; the LORD CHAN-
CELLOR, proxy for Lord MANVERS; Lady ELIZA-
BETH BAKER, proxy for Lady MANVERS. The child
was mined WELL iNtiTON PATRICK MANVERS. There
was a grand dinner and evening party after.
One change in the Admiralty has, we believe, been
long settled, and report now speaks of another. It
is romoured that both Vice-Admirals Sir JosE"u
YotiKE and Sir GEORGE Flom are to retire ; and that
Rear-. Admirals Sir GEORGE COCKBURN and Sir
HENRY HOTHAM are to be their successors.
The four declared Parliamentary Pilgrims to Cax-
terhury are actively preparing to visit the shrine of
THOMAS A BECKET, and tell their tales to the Elec-
tors, each in the hope of being happily dismissed to
St. Stephen's Chapel.
The Oratorios closed at Covent Garden last night,
when a grand Selection was performed to the great
delight of a crowded audience. The Duke and
Duchess of GLOUCEsTER entered their box before the
commencement of the performance, and were receiv-
ed with every testimonial of the highest respect. All
the singers instantly appeared, and Goo save the King'
was piven amidst the plaudits of the whole House.
Last night Mr. WALKER closed his very interesting
Lectures on Astronomy at the English Opera House.
It is but justice to observe that the whole went tAwith
well-merited applause and satisfaction.
Mr. LLoeo's concluding Astronomical Lecture, at
the Haymarket Theatre, was last night likewise well
attended ; and his excellent illustrations of the Solar
System, &c. gave infinite satisfaction to the audience.'
We lately mentioned, on the authority of a Boston
Newspaper, a report of the death of the celebrated
singer, Mr. INCLEDON. We have great satisfaction in
stating that the rumour was uniounded, his family
having received letters from him yesterday, dated
New York, February 13, at which time he era s in
perfect health. He had been pc -forming there for
some nights with great success, and was to take his
benefit oa that evening.

NA FA r., INTELLIGENCE.

MARGATE, MARCH 13.
Wind. N.E.—Sailed the Lord Wellington, Kautz,
for Bengal, and the rest of the outward-bound.

DEAL, MARCII 13.
• Wind N. E.—Came down from the. River the Fa-
♦Ourite, BRAVENDER, for liavannah, and has sailed
with the whole of the outward-bound, except the
Java and Lady Carrington, Indiamen, for their re-
spective destinations, with a gentle breeze at N. E.—
Also sailed the whole of the Enmeward-bound for the
River. A large fleet of ships is coming out of Rams-
gate, and are passing through the Downs to the West-
ward.—We have made most strict enquiry respecting
the vessel mentioned yesterday as being lost on the
Sands, bit cannot ascertain any further particulars.

DOVER, MARCH 13.
Sailed last night the Trafalgar, Captain HAM for
Ostend, with a Mail and Passengers ; and the Prin-
cess Charlotte packet, Captain IiALLANO., arrived
this morning, from that port, with a Mail and Pas-
sengers. Sailed thii morning the Poll, Captain
STRAINS, for Calais, with a MaiL Arrived this day
the Chichester packet, Captain Rurrsit ; and Flora,
Captain WATSON, from Calais with Passengers.—
Sailed the Dutch schooner Commercie for Surinam.
The outward-bound, from the Downs, have passed by
here this day, with a fine breeze front the N.E. Ar-
rived the Dorchester, Houor., from Cprk, for Lon-
don ; and the Friendship, GERLOFS, froin Seville,
bound to Amsterdam.
PORTSNIOUTH, MARCH 13.
. Wind N.—The wind has been north nearly all day,
. which has enabled the outward-bound to proceed,
but it has shifted to the W.N.W. this evening.—Ar-
rived the sloop le Petite Esperance, —, from Cher-
bourg. A seaman, who stated himself to belong to
the American brig Francis, of Portland. has reported
to us, that on the night of the 4th inst. she struck
' on a rock between Portland and the Needles, and
was totally lost, and only four of the crew saved.—
She was from the Savannah, with a cargo of tobacco
for Bremen.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH ie.
Wind S.W.—Arrived the Tamerlane, FRANKLIN,
from the Cape of Good Hope, bound to Falmouth,
but last night it blew so very hard, that Captain
FRANKLIN could not get into Falmouth, and was
obliged in consequence to run for :hi; parti—she
sailed from the Cape on the Ist of January—left
there the True Briton, and Princess Charlotte, fur
Liverpool—and from St. Helena 14. th January.
FALMOUTH, MARCH
Wind S.S.W.—Arrived the Harmony, BELL, from
Alicant, in 52 days.

HARWICH, MARCH 15.
Wind N.E.—Arrived the Perseverance. Mite
from Glasgow, with a general cargo for Londoi
with loss of gaff, &c. and part of w►ndlass upset.

ALDBOROUGH, MARCH 13.
The sloop Free Briton, MASS, laden with flag
stones, from Leeds to Colchester, was forced on shore
by the violence of the wind and sea, yesterday morn-
ing, upon Orford Beach, and immediately went to
pieces—crew saved. And at the same time was
driven on shore, at the entrance of Orford Haven,
the Liberty, BARDwELL, from London, with corn ;
part of the cargo and crew saved. The vessel be.
longs to Southwold.

SHIELDS, MARCH 11.
Sailed the Grenville Bay, I,‘Vit..tiams, for the
Davis' Straights Fishery.
GRAVESEND, MARCH 13.
Arrived the -Rosamond, Young, from Caen ; the London
packet, Corneby, from Smyrna ; Caroline, —, from Havre ;
Aurora, Gardner, from Oporto; Albert, Stean, from Virginia;
Cynthia, Whitt, from the Cape ; John, Smith, from Bremen ;
Feraegden, Weller, from Stockhorn.—Sailed the Bier-eyed Lass„
Hope, for Lisbon ; Marchioness of Ely, Kay, for India ; Lord
Cathcart, Brown, for Fort William ; Contest, —, for Deme-
rara; Princess Charlotte, Lamb, for Madeira and Tobago; the
Agenora, Postgase, for Rio Janeiro ; Douglas, Moir' for Tene-
rife ; Wilton, Pope, for Trieste ; Sincerity, Smith, for Jersey ;
Amity, Privitt, for Dublin ; Nassau, Ottes, for Ostend ; and the
Liberty, Evans, for Rotterdam.

The Hollands, ANDREWS, from Charleston to Am,
sterdam ; and the Rose, BARRY, from Lyme to Aber-
deen, were driven on shore near Boulogne, on Wed-
nesday, and it is feared would go to pieces—crews
saved.
BLACKWATER, MARCH 13.—The other day, the
wind being extremely boisterous, this place and the
neighbouring villages were alarmed by an immense
crash and a shock of the earth, as if occasioned by
an earthquake: upon enquiring into the cause of this
supposed phenomenon, it was discovered that the
ball of an ancient Obelisk, erected in the reign of
CHARLES I. by the ancestors of the present Mr.Noa:
MS, had fallen to the ground and crushed a coach
and several passengers who were journeying towards
London. So great was the curiosity of the neigh-
bouring villages, that in less than three hours multi-
tudes of people were collected around this ruined
fabric. The ball measured in circuinfe:ence 53 feet,
was of wood enveloped in several sheets of lead, and
is now to be seen by any amateurs at the College
Lodge, which is situated near that spot.. We are
happy to state that only two passengers were severely
hurt ; the others are doing well, and are in the Hos-
pital at the Royal Military College.
The damages done in the Counties of Kent and
Sussex by the late storms, have exceeded any thing
of the kind on any former occasion: on all the road
sides, in the eastern parts of Sussex, ale to be seen,
here and there large prostrate trees, blown down by
the wind ; barn.; without roofs, and in some instan-
ces, the whole of several out-houses levelled with the
grour.d. The following singular circumstance hap-
, pened to a Gentleman of respectability on the Wed-
nesday, which was his wedding night. The family
had retiree to rest in a small cotrage or,ue, hired by
the husband, to spend the /whey-ninon, on the bordes
of a common. About twelve o'clock, the violence of

the gale beat in all the sashes of the windows, frame-
work arts all together, and then forced out those on
the leeward. The parties, drenched with water and
almost blrwn away with wind, were obliged to walk
1 four miles in /toe statu, to an inr.—ln the pat isles 14
Sheldhurst and Bidborough, several large apple•trees
have beet, blown down; and in some of the villages
on the high grounds, near the co..st of Sussex, the
roofs have been carried clear away, and the wa,ls
left standing. A Correspondent, who has jiot coine
off a short tour in Kest, assures us, that flits i.thabi-
unts of most of the.huge towns say, they never re-
member such continued gales, or such extensive nii,-
chief done by diem.

THE MURDERERS OF MR.
GREENWICH.

We feel extremely happy in star
many fruitless attempts, much 'about
ranee, the murderers or Mr. Brno al
servant, have at last been discoveiel '
Gentlemens' servants in the neighbJi
whom are in custody, and have been
fore the Magistrates. One of them
evidence. The watches, and the rest
stolen have been discovered. The
been sent to Maidstone for trial at the

ESSEX A S.iIZES.
cllELmsFohu,

Clt7l, SIDL.—TOWLIts k"Ai. 5.

This was an action of trespass ag;
dant for breaking down the plaiai,
sporting upon his lands with dogs.
Lord of the Manor of Southweald, MI
WAS a Yeoman in the neighbour linos!.
was seen in the act of shooting hares
Cdr.,: lands on the 10th of January h
him three sporting dogs.—The Jur.
plaintiff—Damages 4415.

CROWN SIDE.

John (7or was indicted under I,lrl
Act, for cutting Mary Evans, a little
ut• age, midi intent to do her b
the defendant was indicted in this
intention was to violate the person
a, she and her sister stated, the prise,
in a Feld, and seizing the younger,
and attempted a brutal purFo,z, wl
effecting. he took his knife and cut
not with decency to be chserihed.
known to the children, who describe
he was immediately pursued dad al
searching him, the Censta.de foi,r
him, which was stained s; ith blood.
Mr. ANDREWS, as Counsel for t.;
an objection in point of law, that
come within the meaning of the Ac
was to ravish, and not to do bodily
The Learned JUDGE s..id, he •

jection to the Judc-es.—lhe Jury
the prisor.er—(;uilty.
James Laundy was indicted fir ai
tent to ravish Susan Smith.—This
ridiculous case, for the prosecutri:
lined servant with the prisoner, wl;
though she told him he should ne
would, and did—and oace is
was in the cow-house, I:zr
and if she had not held hir tongui
been discovered ; at that time the
though she told him he should not.
out hesitation, found the prisoner—.

ItoN.—Ye
of Prince's-bareet, Southvvbrk, ka niaroed
charged whiz violating the person vi Sara!
pri-otter denied that he used auy viokncc
.he did not tell her mother till a week cite
MikLIOROVGII-inuarr.—Fintvp, why
the two boys, Spicer and Keay. it.to the c
Rank notes, was yesterd.:y brought up a
Iloube of Correction. The charge ap..i.
uttering forged Batik notes, and he was re.
day.—The examination was so scrupuloioh
Chief Clerk kept the door.
DNS ATTACK.—Tlitimiay night,

Matilda Emery Will walking along l iccadi
friend's towards home, when a man, when
appearance of a gentleman, address d her,
She walked on without making any repl
low her, and a second time addressed hat-,
her very violently, which caws d her to
before she could recover lwrself the ir.h;
instrument into her side ; she screamed
' ground ; he ran offthe moomnt he had p'
act. iler exclamation brought several pe,
and they instantly pursued biro, but nub
too great a di.nance to be overtaken. Th,
St. George's Hospital by some strangers ;
the wound, which is considered daugeto:
&Ile, fr.oat
this moment returned fins
tragic scene. Ten wretched victims h
the altar of offended justice, (convicted
murder of the Lynch latttily) can ely,
bell, Malone, 31‘Cabe, Craven, Kierm
and Laurin. (hi the Craven

Campbell, confessed thAr guilt ; but
beings declartd, in the most <ckmn
that-4 they were innocent as the child
which tLey were about to r.:fter ; :i-
-liac; were at the burning of V.",'

forgave their proaccutors and all the
parently very penitent, and some of th
fortitude worthy of better meta
concourse of 20,040 persons, who aNst.:
beholding the melancholy spec:ack.
tims to be sus:it:toted in chairs at (.%T..../
three at a pace C
fram Dundalk to Castleblayney.—Tie
in this abominable catastrophe are rut 4
A few eights since, the slauzivoir of
keel, in Ireand, was furci!dy taken frc
named Donnal, snd has t ot since beer
lb/. has been offered for their apprehe

Tuesday se'nniblat, the Derr): -Mail
to of notes to the amount of 7,,
GRAND HURLING .t CRICi:i
minary arrangernents are Makin
and Harlin& Match, after E.i.
tween Engltsh and Iri h Cie

between tl.c Irishmen resi.le:.i.
of the Metropolis. The
Munster are to hurl against C.
anti preparations will be made
nessts t.f the sport, who .tre ex?
" Where is the name
said a tradesman to anaher
through Cheapside the oil.er
expedition. " Why,"
any where im the : •
the name P Asti, to (.1,1
that I am entitled to; fcr you
part of his lucky Number w
‘• " 'out," saidtl
" hate?" " Because lam at,
may he gone, and you know 1:
and away he ran.
COUNTRY
DANAeux, N'arch ss.
to 9 td—Vetch...s, t,t's od -r•er busht
I —0.tt5,.28% Oil to 36s 0.1 rer cyar.rti
69s to utm per
th:to.tl),' Audi pri". of
' —1 h. Itunrt,.r• Wheater, Is
' I Ut 31,11X.Y.
per qumt, a., 5., to ;2,-
; 41..4 to iron—Yeas, 4.1 s to

f.; '4'

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