Star.
London, England, 1810-03-02 00:00:00

OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS.

---
On the motion of Sir JOHN NEWPORT, there was ordered
to be laid before the House an account of the Sums granted as I
compensation for the Fees of the Officer!. of Customs at the Ports
of London, Bristol, and Liverpool, and of the Salaries paid to
those who now execute those duties.
Vr JOHN NEWPORT asked, if it was in contemplation to
carry into force the suggestions of the Commissioners appointed
to examine into Fees in Ireland ?
Mr. W. POLE said, that was now under the consideration of
the I.aw Officers.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT asked, if the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman had received any communication front the Commissioners
of the Revenue relative to the Bth Report?
Mr. W. POLL admitted, that having sent the Repprt to Lord
Annesley he had ieceived a long paper in return, but he did not
see much in it.

INSOLVENT IDElritatS.
Mr. GRATTAN gave notice, that he should to-morrow move
for leave to bring in a Rill to extend and amend the Laws re.
liming to Insolvent Debtors in Ire Lind.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS.
Mr. WILBER FORCE moved the second reading of the Cha-
ritable Donations Bill.
Mr. S. swam thought the Bill unnecesrary. He was not
aware because Charities had been abused, that every man should
be obliged to enroll the Charities intrusted to his care. He
thought they were sufficiently protected by the Statute of Queen
Elizabeth.
After a few words from Mr.WILBERFORCE and Mr. HAR-
VEY COMBF., the Bin was read a second time, and ordered to
be committed for Tuesday se'nuight.
IRIsII DISTILLERIES.
On the motion of Mr. FOSTER, the House went into a Com-
mittee on the acts relative to Distillation in Ireland.
Mr. FOSTER then stated it to be his intention, with the leave
of the Committee, to bring in a Bill for amending the Laws re-
lating to Distillery in Ireland. The principal feature in this Lai
should be to reduce the duties from ss. 8d per gallon to 2s. Gd.
then by hoping to diminish, if not entirely to prevent, illegal
distillation. He did not believe this would greatly reduce the re-
venue, as it would hold out a strong encouragement to the fair
dealer. He was willing, however, so far to sacrifice the revenue
to the cause of morality among the people.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT heartily concurred in this alteration. I
He wished, however, that the system was changed, and that li- I
eences rather than inspection by Excise Officers should be adopted.
Mr. Fos•rmt contended, that the inadequacy of the system of
licences was to be seen from this, that they had risen from ,ea
to X 164. The Union, too, by the introduction of countervail-
ing denies rendered that system impracticable.
Mr. BERESFORD wished to know if any allowance of duty
was to be made for the stock of spirits on hand ?
Mr. FOSTER said, such a measure would be productive of
endleSs difficulty and confusion. In the Commutation Tax on Tea
there was no such allowance.
Mr. PARNELL supported the observations of Sir John New
port.
Mr. HUTCHTNSON complained of the vascillatlons in the
system, and contended strongly in favour of licences.
After some other remarks, the Chairman was instructed to
move for leave to bring in the Bill, which on the House resum-
ing, was granted to him.
Mr. FOSTER moved, and it was accordingly ordered that the
House should on Monday resolve into a Committee, to consider
the propriety of bringing forward a BID for lowering the Duties
upon Spirits distilled from corn in Ireland.
?4R. FULLER.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
rose, and stated that he had been authorized by Mr.
Fuller, now in the custody of the Serjeant atArrns, to
express the deepest regret for the outrage of which he
had been guilty, and to request, in Mr. Fuller's name,
that he might be discharged. As Mr. Fuller had
thus expressed his regret for his conduct therefore,
and had thus apologized, he trusted the House would
think that it had expressed irs sense of the impropriety
of such conduct in a manner sufficiently strong, and
that enough had been done to support their dignity
and authority. He concluded, by moving that Mr.
Fuller be now discharged out of custody.
Lord TEMPLE was sure that the House must be
aware how unpleasant it was to rise to speak in oppo-
sition to the most lenient proposal upon a personal
question. But there were times and circumstances
which required that these feelings should be sur-
mounted, and which demanded that Gentlemen
should not shrink from a strict discharge of their
duty, however unpleasant. It was hardly necessary
for him, he trusted, to disclaim any personal hostility
to the Gentleman to whom this motion related; but
after the extraordinary, outrageous, and highly ag-
gravated insult which had been experienced by the
House ; an outrage the more serious as it had been
committed within their walls ; and the more aggra-
vated as it had been directed, not to the Members
alone, but to the person of the Speaker ; after all I
these circumstances he could not make up his mind I
to pass the matter with so slight a punishment ; no
more indeed than what might be suffered by any of
the Members if a quarter of an hour behind his time
on a call of the House. The House, would, no
doubt, recollect that a committal to the custody of
the Serjeant at arms often took place upon being a
few minutes behind their time at election ballots. It
was impossible for him, therefore, consistently with
his sense of what was due to the House and the
Speaker, to suffer such outrageous conduct to pass
with so slight a mark of the resentment of the House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
claimed the indulgence of the House to say a few
words. He confessed that he did not see the matter
in the same light as the Noble Lord did. He agreed
with the Noble Lord, that the scene of th.e evening
before the last was a scene of extraordinary outrage ;
but the extravagance of the outrage evidently dis-
played the state of the Hon. Gentleman—a state
which, in his opinion, did not tender it the indispen-
sible duty of the House to proceed with great seve-
.rity. The Noble Lord compared the confinement of
the Hon. Gentleman to the confinement of a Member
who had been too late for a Call of the Honsc. The
two kinds of confinement were, however, by no
means analogous. It was true that the periods were
the same,. but the difference was, that in the case of
the Hon. Gentleman the House of Commons had ex-
pressed their strong sense of the impropriety of his
conduct that mark d the difference between the two
punishments. If the ;House were to allow the con-
tinement of. the .Hon. Gentleman to continue for
many days, they could at last have but that which he
had already offered—his contrition for his offence.—

thetearnsalicte.e
Indeed, On the very evening that the eirentiltance 1 the Right Hononrahle Gentleman, that Mr. • tri.i.t.i.:et
occurred, so instantly did the Hon. Gentleman be- ! called to the bar, there to make an apeleo le a e
come sensible of his misconduct, that he authorised ! House in person. •
another Hon. Gentleman to tender his apology to Sir E. 'KNATCHBULL expressed
the Moose, Amon as soon as the offence had been concern which he felt at the whole of the •
rreit
No one 'terse *more soliCitons
an..a
committed. He did not conceive the Hon. Gentle- t a transaction at which he had not been present, a ''
man intended any personal offence to the Chair ; and 1 which had been related to him from two n
he' c ~
he rather supposed that it must be the opinion of i quartars;
of
than hoes a r
those who witnessed the transaction, on a full review ; for the maintenance of the character, digeity a, ~l
of all the circumstances attending upon it, that the I privileges of the House of Commons ;
offence was to the House at large. He was one of . fessed that he did not think the apology which Lli
the last men who would be disposed to allow any perso- just been offered was sufficient for the Hous to rr.
1 nal offence to the Chair of that House to pass without ceive. At the same time he entertained the aight,,,t
severe punishment ; but he really thought that in the i regard for the credit, character, and honour
posei le
present instance no such offence was intended. Under ' unfortunate Gentleman -himself, on whom the
I he had
these circumstances, he trusted that the Noble Lord ! that day called, and of whom he hoped he ere!
would not persevere in thinking that there were cir- anticipate too much when he declared his cony'. •n"t
cumstances of aggravation in this case which deman- that if he (Mr. Fuller) conceived that he had cast
ded the infliction of further penalty ; but that he and the slightest imputation on the Chair of that H .
the House would be of opinion that enough had been ' he would be inost ready at the bar of the Hou(s'Ce;
done to support their own dignity, and that the Hon. I acknowledge his error, and to make every
Gentleman might be relieved from his personal con- 1
tahpeolHogoynofuorraibole
GHeenttrieurst:ldn
mthiagthtaniz asro,orleTl4.Ne'ddilt:/..,.
finement. 1
Mr. C. VYNNE allowed that the expression of I make, would be deemed a sufficient 4• t
OneM:Mt i+ ^
the displeasure of the House which the Honourable . his offence.
! Gentleman had incurred was a severe punishment.— Mr. Secretary RYDER was not d'epesee to exte.
Still he thought something more was due to the dig- nuate the offence of the Honourable Ge e
11 L 121311, bid
nity of the House. The Hon. Gentleman had not 'he could not refrain from observing, rj • ,the • •
. . 1.1.. evittee
committed one offence alone ;it would appear on the ! situation of the Honourable Gentleman whim tne
Journals that in the first place he had used language I disgraceful scene took place, although no excuse f r
in the highest degree offensive and disrespectful : that I his conduct, yet certainly proved that his offence veil
for this language he had been ordered (after having l not one of premeditation. Indeed it could be attri-
withdrawn) into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms. i bated only to the state of the Honourable Gentlemen
It would then appear that the Hon. Gentleman for-; at the time—s state which rendered him insensible to
Iced his way in at the door, and grossly insulted the ' the impropriety of his behaviour. At the same time
whole House,compelling the Speaker, with a prompt- he so far concurred in the sentiment of the Honour-
ness which did him the greatest honour, to resume I able Gentleman opposite, and differed front those of
the Chair without a question, for the purpose of pro- his Right Honourable Friend that he did think, with
tecting the dignity of the House itself. If the Right a view to example, it would be right to amend his
Honourable Gentleman's motion were acceded to, Right Honourable Friend's proposition, and to order
this narrative of outrage on the Journals would be that Mr. Fuller be called to the bar and reprinianded
followed by a statement, that without any further by the Speaker. As to the observations made by the
punishment, the apology of the Hon- Gentleman was Noble Lord with respect to the way in which the
admitted, and that he was consequently discharged. whole proceeding would appear on the Journals, it
He thought that at least a course should be preserved would be seen there that the discharge of the offee-
, similar to that which had been frequently adopted, der did not take place on the day immediately sub-
' when Members in their speeches used terms of a re- sequent to the offence. Nor did he think that the pie
prehensible description, namely, that the Honoura- nishment which the Honourable Gentleman had al.
ble Gentleman should be reprimanded by the Speaker ready sustained, and the punishment of any Menthe;
—for it must be recollected, that • the observations for absence from an election ballot, were at all ca.
made by the different Members did not find their pable of comparison.
way to the Journals, on which, however, would be The SPEAKER said, that before he put re
entered'the reprimand of their legitimate organ. The amendment of the Right Honourable Gentleman, be
strongest argument in favour of the Honourable perhaps owed it to the Honourable Gentleman wiin,e
Gentleman was the neglect of the House in having conduct was under discussion", to state to the Honse
frequently allowed former instances of improper con- that he had that afternoon received from the Hon.
duct to pass unnoticed. Had the House done their Gentleman a letter of pc rs inal apology for the expire.
duty on former occasions, they would not have wit- sions relative to himself, of the uttering of v hich,
messed the recent scene. he (the Speaker) had been wholly unconlci-ins at
. Mr. LOCKHART observed, that it was rather too the time. Had he been aware of them, he'vevcr, he
hard at this moment to allude to the former conduct trusted that the House would do him the credit to
of Mr. Fuller ; if the Honourable Gentleman who believe that he was incapable of entertaining any cot.
spoke last really did mean to allude to him. The ing of personal resentment, or any sentiments different
House not having noticed it, it ought not to be from those which the House at large must entertain
brought up against Mr. Fuller in his present situation. on the general conduct of the Honourable Gentle.
(Hear, hear.)—He knew how much Mr. Fuller re- man.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
Fretted the outrage into which he had been betrayed The SPEAKER observed, that he understood
in an unwary moment, and he knew that his regret the Honourable Baronet only to have thrown out a
was the more keen, on account of the misconception , suggestion, without embodying it into a formal
which he found to prevail both in and out of the amendment ; but if he had misapprehended the 110-
House, as to his having meant any disrespect to the nourable Member, he hoped the House would gilt'
Speaker. He had done all that was in his power to him leave to correct himself.
counteract that impression. He had apologized for Sir R. WILLIAMS then said, that he would se'•
his offence, and expressed his regret that lie should cond the Amendment of the Right Hon. Gentleman
have been led into it. He hoped, therefore, the opposite (Mr. Ryder).
House would feel that its dignity would not be in the The question being put,
least compromised by assenting to the motion. Sir J. ANSTRUTHER conceived it his duty to
Mr. WHITBREAD said, that he 'had sat for 20 state, that the conduct of the Hon. Gentleman ap-
years in the House and never witnessed such a gross peered to him to proceed from that species of mei-
outrage as had been committed the other night. He dental misfortune—(Here the Hon. Gentleman was
was present—he saw it all—he heard it rill—but interrupted by cries of Question, Question.)—From the
would not quote the language used. Those who moment of the occurrence of the circumstance, he hid
were present would recollect that it was only by an thought that a personal 'apology to the Speaker wis
accidental circumstance that the outrage had been necessary before the discharge of the lion. Gentle-
prevented from proceeding to the utmost excess of man could take place. That apology, it seems, bet
violence. (Hear, Hear.)—After this Mr. Fuller sent been made, and he wished to know whether it cull
the House a sort of an apology directed to the appear on the journals of the House ?
' Chancellor of the Exchequer (Hear, Hear.) The SPEAKER replied, that not any thing Iltc a
i The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER personal insult to himself appearing on the journal;
here interrupted Mr. Whitbread, and said, that he of the House, would 'at once supersede the necessity
uaderstood the apology to be directed to the House, of any apology to himself appearing there.
though it had been inclosed in a letter to him. • Mr. G. VANSITTART asked whether any ape
Mr. WHITBREAD, in continuation, insisted logy whatever would-appear on the journals ?
that it was directed to the Chancellor of the Exche- The SPEAKER: adduced a case which happened
quer, and taking up a paper from the table, read— two'years ago. A.Mernber having incurred the de-
" I beg you will inform the House that I ant sorry for pleasure of the House, but having immediately coo
what I have done, and beg leave to apologise for my fessed his error, that confession was stated on tie
conduct." This was directed to the Chancellor of Journals as the round on which the House consent-
the Exchequer. (Murmurs on the Ministerial Bench.) ed to pass over his offence.
The paper itself sewed that such was the fact, and it The amendment of Mr. Secretary RYDER (with the
was impossible they could deny it. Of the letter addition of the word " now") was then agreed to;
inclosing this apology the House knew nothing* as it and the Speaker ordered the Serjeant at Arms to brine
was not on the table ; but after all, the apology was Mr. FULLEit to the Bar.
far from being couched in very strong terms. (Hear, On Mr. FULLER'S appearance, the SPEAKER 2d-
hear.) Gentlemen had talked a great deal lately dressed him in the most dignified and impressive maa-
about their privileges. One man for a violation of ner,
words—
them had lately been reprimanded at their bar, and ' and nearly in the following "
Mr. Fut.tre—You stand at that Bar, in the presence of the
another had been sent to Newgate, and was the House
to suffer an outrage within its walls—the greatest • 'nes of ilin
their displeasure. During the progress sof a Coaum
outrage that had ever been committed, to pass with United Commons of this Realm, to receive the declaration of
House, employed in a most solemn and important Inquirit Yu':
this slight mark of its sense of such conduct ? When •
offensive language
an Honourable Baronet, who Was present at the time, should be made to the authority of the whole House. Odic(' 00
thought that he who committed this outrage ought or you a,ggravated your Ltst
and disorderly conduct required that an reral
by the House to excuse your err ,
to be sent to the Tower, it would not perhaps be con-
oßbnce by insulting the character
sidered as harsh, that he (Mr. W.) expected a much
itself. You were ordered in consequence to withdraw frog
' the House, an order
more ample apology • and even supposing an amplewhich ought to have been alike obligator!
be apology to made, he could not . have thought it on your p erson and on your honour; • but you broke through .
possible that the offending person should be dismissed and the dignity of the Ho
restraint, and re twered these wail* with °way and
without a reprimand from the Chair. When Gen-
i
tlemen who saw the outrage, doubted, if it would be i unparalleled.
consistent with %he dignity of t! e House to allow the I felt only cos
man who had so insultingly violated its privileges and i I can with the utmost sincerity assure you, that
rules, ever to sit there again, it proposed to dismiss Member should so deg
" This is the bead and front of your offending. For tnrelf.
i cern and regret that any Honourable .
the matter with this meagre apology and slight con-
finement I (Hear, hear.) Many Gentlemen present row which have been offered to the House this night on your
f your Offellee, 6
had seen the outrage; 411 of them had heard of it ; half, as well as early after the commission o
himself ; and I ant willing to believe, from the expressions of
the whole public rung with it. He affirmed, that not Y treated you, ri
the House alone, but the Speaker had been insulted ; . For the moderation with winch this Howe has
led,
he had heard the language used. He would not owe it to your most humble and grateful acknow .
or
quote it, unless he was challenged to do so. But if to tuictake its
You now experience a due sense of ttr nature of your own ern(
Let nht this considerate forbearance lead you
heshould be challenged to quotethe words, et thought titres, Or neglect its warning : for if unhaPPi
they were such as would leave no doubt of e cor- future period relapse into similar practices, I fear that tn all t,
rectness of his conclusion. He must therefore oppose bability there can be but one measure which it will Neer% :
thority f#01" i.%.' It:,
the motion. Mouse to adopt, in order to rescue its au
A 1 r. 1 - hility of coatitskier
Sir It. WILLIAMS thought it gide to advise- dlagroce, and Wralttave 7011 file" di. Pit' • g
Vr...: : &joined by the IsioJ
able to propose, as an amendrnerst to t e suet= of .presuniiiiiitieli cantest. I have beta r ly you should
~st.oir