The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-04 00:00:00

Mr. HUME and Mr. IVETHERELL explained.

Captain O'GRADY said, that be had hitherto left this
subject entirely to the judgment of the Committee, and
he must say that he had no fault to find with their pro-
ceedings up to the pre:sent moment. If he rightly under-
stood the object of the Hon. Member who had introduced
these Resolutions, it was to obtain a vote upon the gene-
ral question, on the receiving the Report ; if this were so
he did not object to it, but he must protest against leav-
ing the Chief Baron in such a state before the country,
that some might say, however unjust and calumnious
their intention, that he was criminal. He was sure that
no Gentleman in the Committee would leave en ambigu-
ous charge hanging over any individual, without giving
him an opportunity of alleviating tltedisadvantages under
which he might labour. The Resolutions were so amend-
ed in their progress through the Commitee, that he had
no fault to find with them. If the vote was to be taken on
the report of the Resolutions, he rejoiced at it, because,
whenever the charge came to a discussion on the merits,
he would hazard his life upon the issue; but he must say,
the longer that vote was postponed, the greater was the
injury to the Chief Baron. He would not say that the
delay which had already taken place was unnecessary,
but unfortunately it was the fate of this subject that it was
brought forward at so late a period of the Session, that
it could not he pressed to a conclusion, and the conse-
quence was, that this charge was hanging over new three
years. If the merits of the charge were to be discussed,
he must say that that was not the House. If it were to
be proposed to sink the matter in so small a House, lie
would certainly object to it.
Mr. LOCKHART said he felt himself bound to vote
against reporting the Resolutions.
Mr. T. WILSON said that he differed from the Right
Hon. Gentleman who thought the Resolutions might be
agreed to without expressing any opinion as to the ulti.
mate result. He OIL IV.) thought that if the Resolu.
tions were voted, they were boned to express an opinion.
Mr. RICE thought it was now impossible to pursue
any other course than that of reporting the Resolutions.
Mr. T. itWILSON explained.
In reply to an observation from Mr. RICA RDO,
The CHAIRMAN said that it would be impossible to
move the amendment of the Honourable Member for
'Aberdeen in concurrence with Resolutions. already
agreed to.
After a few words from Mr. WETHERELL and Mr.
CANNING,
The Resolutions were affirmed and the amendment ne-
gatived.
The House resumed. The Chairman reported progress.
The Report to be further considered on Alor.day next.

INSOLVENT BILL.
The House went into a Committee on the Insolven t
Bill.

Mr. LOCKHART suggested the expediency of making
some alteration in the law with respect to debts under
penal statutes.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he could see no
necessity for adopting the suggestion (4 the Hon. Gentle-
. .

After a few words from Mr. Hume, the Solicitor-Gene-
ral, and the Attorney-General, some other clauses were
agreed to.
The dances of the Bill being read through, the Report
was ordered to be received to-morrow.
TRADE TO INDIA.

Mr. WYNN moved the further consideration of the
Report of the East India Trade.
Mr. BRIGIIT objected to the measure as one that
went to make a material alteration in the colonial
policy of this country. Such a Bill should have been
brought forward in the beginning, and rot to be passed
at the end of a Session, because it required very long and
serious consideration One part of the Bill, that which
related to the importation of opium, would throw the
West India islands into the greatest confusion. Indeed,
it would well become the humanity of the Company to
stop the cultivation of that poisonous drug. He strongly
objected to the provision which the Bill proposed to make
respecting the lascars, for it would give the Governor-
tieneral of India a power to legislate for the whole of
his Majesty's dominions. lie saw no reason why our
Courts of Law should be made to give effect to regula-
tions which the Governor-General might think iii to
make.

Mr. T. COURTENAY defended the Bill. The only
attack it nucleon the Itsitish Colonies was that of allow-
ing an innocent trade to be carried on with them. With
respect to Lasears, by the present law, the owners of
ship bringing Lascars into this country were bound to
take them back; but those owners had no power over
them ; and the present provision went to remove that in-
convenience.

Air. ROBERTSON bad no objection to the House
going into the Committee; but it was the duty of Parlia-
ment to correct the numerous grievances that bad long
prevailed in India, both in regard to the Government and
the trade of that country.
Mr. W. WIGRANI admitted that many hardships existed
in India ; but they were more to be imputed to the Go-
vernment of this country than to that of India. He sup-
pb—ed the Bill.
Mr. W 1 NN said before this Bill could be introduced, It
was necessary to have removed numerous prejudices that
existed on the subject of it. But the proper time for mak-
ing objections would be when the Bill was in a Committee.
As to opium, it could be imported In any quantity by the law
as it now stood.

Mr. FORBES supported the Bill.
Mr. BRIGHT explained.
Mr. T. WILSON complained of one clause In the Bill
which would greatly affect the shipping interest.
After a few words from Mr. ASTELL end Mr. ROBERT-
SON, the Bill was recommitted. The clauses were put se-
riatim. and, after some verbal amendments were agreed to,
the Report was ordered to be received this day.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned at half-past two o'clock.

This day is Published,
THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION Produced and
Illustrated.
By JOHN CARTWRIGHT.
No such thing as a Constitution exists in England.
Can Mr. Burke province the English Constitutlow.—Paile.
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