Star.
London, England, 1803-04-28 00:00:00

CLOTHIBRII BILL.

Mr. W. Die KIN sot; moved the order of the day
for the fecond reading of the Clothiers Bill.
Mr. H. LA/WELLES Rated, that in riling he did
not mean to propofe any Reps to obffrutlt the bill;
but as feveral petitions had been prefented againfl
it, he fubmitted to the Houfe, whether it would
not be fit to give the petitioners an opportunity of
being heard ? He was not clear as to the corral
mode of proceeding, but left it to the wifdom of
the Houle, whether the petitions llsould be referred
to the Committee on the Bill, or the Bill itfelf,
which had been brought forward in compliance
with the prayer of other petitions, fhould not be
fent back with thefe petitions, to the original Com
mittee, in order that the matter of all the petitions
fhould be there fully examincd,and afterwards re-
, ported to the Houfe t
Mr. WM. DICKEMSOW could not comprehend
the objed of the Hon. Gentleman. He could fee
no reafon for referring the Bill to the original
Committee. The °hied of that Committee had
been to examine whether fufficient ground had been
laid for the bill? that was found to be the cafe,and
the prefent bill was introduced conformably to the
report of that Committee.
Mr. H. Lases Lt.'s, in explanation. Rated, that
if the petitions had been prefented before the re-
port had been made' they would have been referred
to the Committee. His objed was, to procure the
petitioners a hearing.
The Ciraircattoa of the Exciragyart conceived
the Hon. Gentleman to have miftaken the mode
of proceeding that ought to be adopted. It was
again(' an dtablifhed order of the Houfe to admit
adverfe parties before a Committee appointed to
enquire into the grounds upon which any meafure
was to be brought forward. When petitions, how-
ever,were prefented againa the meafure, an ex parte
cafe was ellablifhed ; and the allegations of fuch
petitions were heard either on the fecond reading,
or in the Committee on the Bill. It was impoffible
that the Bill could be fent back to the originalCom-
mince ; yet the Houfe would not be precluded
thereby from hearing evidence againfl it. He
hoped the Houfe would feel the juflice of referring
it to a Committee above Rairs, which fhould have
power to inveßigate the allegations of the peti-
tions, and to examine witnefles. The Houle might
afterwards dire& its recommitment to a Committee
of the whole Houfe ; and exercife its difcretion as
to a further examination of the matter of the pe-
titions.

Mr. H. Luc sttss declared, that as there were
general repealing and partial repealing claufes
contained in the Bill, his only object was to pro-
cure it a full confederation ; he declined giving any
opinion on the principle of the Bill.
Admiral 13111.KLEY deprecated delay. He ob-
ferved on the matter of a petition which had been
referred to the Committee above UT s, of which he
had been a member, that it contained an allegation
that was not founded in fart. It Rated that the
Woollen Manufaftures had thriven under the ex-
Wing laws, and that therefore there was no necef.
fity for repealing them. The faa was, that the
law to be repealed by the Bill had become obfo.
lete, and the profperity of the manufaeures had
arifen from their difufe. It was the revival of there
obfolete laws by the fame mifcreants, Country
Lawyers, that induced the Manufafturers to apply
for their formal repeal.
Mr. WILSWORCE laid, it was a fubjeft of the
greatelt importance; it would be for the Commit-
tee to enquire into the nature of the allegations,
and communicate the refult to the Houle, and all
perfons concerned Ihould bring forward what fads
they could alledge on the fubjeft.
The Bill was then read a fecond time, and or.
dered to be committed.

Mr. Hosmouse Paid a requeft had been made
to him, by various petitioners, to make a motion
for granting them leave to be heard by Counfel in
the Committee, to which the Bill was referred,
' againft it. He gave no opinion refpeting the me-
rits of the Bill. But he would make a remark,
that a moll refpeigable body of men, the principal
manufadurers of Wiltdrire, Somerfetfhire, and
Gloucellerfltire, were equally defirous to have evi-
dence heard in the Committee, fo that the fulleß
information may be laid before the Houle ; he
therefore moved, that the feveral Petitions againft
the Bill be referred to the laid Committee ; and
that the petitioners fhould be heard by CounfeL—
Agreed to.
Mr. Dica tri sow, fen. then moved, that Coonfel
fhould be heard againft the Paid petitions, againft
the Paid Bill.—Agreed to.
The other Orders of the Day being difirofed of,
the Houk adjourned.

LONDON.