The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-04-06 00:00:00

LONDON,ORIDAY, APRIL 6, 1821.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF UNlDS.—Tanaseav, Aran. 11.
EARLDOM OF STRATHAIORE.
The House sat in a Committee of Privileges on the
Strathniore Peerage, at three o'clock, when Mr. MRr
opened the cue. The Committee then adjoutied to
this day seamiest.
On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR. the
judgment of the Curt of Sessions in Scotland, do the
case of Deentstons verses Lille, was anairmed by
their Lordships.
Mr. Mason, frost the Directors of the Bast India
Company, presented the third ReFort of the Resolu-
tions of the Directors for granting Salaries, Passions,
and Compensations.--Loid on the table. •
Sir JAMILII GRAMAX and other Members brute* up
^tbe Regent's Canal Bill, and several Private Bills,
from the Commons.—Read a drat time.
The Innkeepers Rates Bill went titres/Oa Com-
mittee and Was reported.

N shwa hat* wa fond.

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

Viscount MELVILLE presented a Petition from the
Connell of the Royal Burgh of Queensferry against
the Catholic Claims.—Laid on the table.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented a
similar Petition from the Dean and Prebend of the
Cathedral Church of Canterbury.—Laid on the table.
The Archbishop of CANTBRBURY then said, that
he had a similar Petition to present from the Dean and
Prebend of Norwich, and thought it proper to state
bow that Petition had came into his hands ;—liis Right
Rey. Friend the Bishop of Norwich had undertaken to
present it, but not being able to come to town immedi-
ately, had requested him to lay it before their Lordships.
ile(the Archbishop of C.) had only to add, that the
Petition was signed by men with whom he had lived on
the most intimate terms, for whom he entertained
the highest respect, and with whom he had bees con-
nected with great satisfaction to himself during his
long residence in the see of Norwich. The Petition
was then read and laid on the table. _ _

The Bishop of CHESTER presented Petitions from
the Clergy of the Diocese of lilourester, and from two
Deaneries in the said Diocese, against the Catholic
Claiins.—Lpitem the toile.
Lord ROLLS presented a similar Petition from the
Rector and Churchwardens of the P•rish of St.
(Merge at E*eter.—Laid on the table.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF OF COMMONS.

Mr. Serjesnt ONSLOVir presented a Petition from
certain Attornies of Ireland, preying that the, hill
aim in reigns* fee 'Abstain Oeutkpmess rlif' tare
taken degrees at the Universities, to be admittsa At-
tornies after a Clerkship of three years, may be ex-
tended to Ireland.

Mr. F. PALMER presented a Petition from several
Landholders of Briggleswade and its vicinity, com-
plaining' of Agricultural Distress. Referred to the
Agricultural Committee.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved fur certain Accounts
relating to the Customs of Ireland, and the salaries
paid to the Officers of those Customs.—Ordered.
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH gave notice of his in-
tenion to move on Tuesday next for leave to bring in
a Hill for the recision of the Criminal Code. It was
not his intention on that day to invite any discussion
on that subject. lie should merely move that the Bill
be printed, and he would suggest the 3d of May for
its discussion.

The Orders of the Day respecting the Committee of
Supply, and of Ways and Means, were postponed to
Friday next (this day.)
Mr. C. CALVERT moved for a Rotors of the num-
ber of Persons confined by order of the Borough
Court of Requests, in the last three years, with an
Account of the sum for which each indiviiisal was
confined. _ _ _

A Message from the Lords announced their Lord-I
ships a•sen• to several Bills.
Mr. HUME gave notice, that he would on Tuesday
next move for leave to bring in a Bill to disqualify cer-
tain Officers of the Ordnance from Pitting in that
House. The notice of the Hon. Member stood origi-
nally for Wednesday, but it dropped in consequence of
there being no House on that day.
Mr. LILISHINMON presented certain Accounts re-
lasing to the Excise Dales.

GAME LAWS.

Lord CRANBORNE rose to move for a Committee
to inquire and take into consideration the present state
of the Game Laws. When the House recollected the
many persons who were daily committed to prison for
offences arising out of these laws, they could net but
see the iuspertance of the subject. He thought, too.
the laws were in many respects absurd and icon-
sistent. In some cases a son was qualified while the
father was not. Thr Noble Lord mentioned several
other instances to show the anomalous state of the
law upon this subject, and concluded by moving for
the Committee.
Sir JOHN SEBRIOHT, le emending the motion,
observed, that he thought say alteration is the
Oasue Laws would be fur the best. 1 hose Laws, he
thought, bad a tendency to corrupt the morals of the
people and to crowd the jails.
Sir JOHN SHELLEY begged to remind the Noble
Lord that a Bill upon the subject, brought in and
supported by the eloquent and popular Member for
Hertfordshire, the present Lord Deere. had been
thrown out. He thought the Noble Lori bad not
acted fairly by the(lame Laws. becomes the Noble Lord
mast be of opinion, either that the lissome shoots be de-
stroyed, or that it should be preserved. Ile sboaW
oppose the motion.
Sir JOSEPH YORKE hoped that the Noble Lori
sveoW, its his new Oil . introdace a clause to .
Gentlemen to have a second
laugh
.) )r. BANKES hoped
they altered a law that
.asovieg the noise:iris
lcomplained of. He did
alien in the law would

r

" The Cm! fin. which iIAMPDEN feel ess ge Field. wed SYDA►ICY 'did as She ietreid

Lord proposed to repeal tile law creating the pities'
offences, upon the ground of its tendency to fill the
prisons, that argument might ipPly as well to the
lease of forgery.—(Hear, hear.)—The alteration of the
law I. this respect, wadi, he conceived, make the
lower order of Ole people ten tinsel are idle than
they Were at present. He suggested that the Noble
Lord should turn his motion for a committee into a
motion for leave to bring In a dill upois the subject,
se no ground whatever had beensbewn for the appoint-
ment of a committee.

Colonel WOOD, in support of the motion, referred
to the Report of a Committee appointed in 181$, upon
Chia sobject. The Committee merely reported that in
their opinion, all game shosid be considered the pro-

s it ire heave should repeal the lite laws, so as
to render the sale of game legal in those who were
qualified to kill it. Under the regent practice, too,
he thought that on the score of qualification, there
was one law for the poor and another for the rich ; as
it was notorious that many Gentlemen stiffer their
guests (who were unqualified) to kill game, at the
same time that they were rigidly enforcing the law
against the poor. An exchange of game also was very
frequent. Game was exchanged by many academes
for fish and other luxuries; and this he conceived na
much a violation of the law as an open sale. After
some farther observations to the same effect, the
Member concluded by expressing his determination WI
support the motion.
Mr. DOUGLAS opposed the motion.
Sir C. Si:KRELL also opposed the motion. In the
?reseal thews it was too much to take away from the
country Gentlemen the only comfirt they bad left.--
(A laugh.)—lle tbon'ot the game laws were general-
ly beneficial. He hail the authority of Mr. Fox, to
spew that a separation of the right in the game free
the owner of the land, would be illegal.
Mr. LOCKHART thought that a Committee ought
not to be appointed, unless the specific defects in the
law, were clearly pointed out, and the remedy stated.
The propo.ition of the Noble bird, be was convinced,
would not produce the slightest improvement in the
morals of mite conntry. if game were to be made pro-
perty, it nou‘t he under the civil law, and then the ef-
fect would he to bring a host of litigation and petty-
fogging lawyers all over the country, disputing about
every head of game. To get rid of one evil, there-
iftwe, they were called on to create another of a much
worse nature. He begged of the House also to con-
sider what a restriction it would be upon the eitioens
all eve* the country. in taking the divoreton of shoot-
int, why. although they might be permitted to %How
the sport on the grounds of those they dealt with,
would not dare to cross a hedge after pose.
Mr. J. HEN grr thought he should be guilty Oa
dereliction of duty if be did not support the present
motion for a Committee. He could nit agree with
the Hon. Member who had jute spoken, that the
making of game property would not have the effect of
improving the motility of the country. Ho was con-
vinced that poaching was the parent of every crime,
and he props:reed, by making game cheap, to make it
not worth the while of the poacher to steal it. It would
then he at the command of every one its the markets,'
and he was coavinred the effect of some measure tend-,
ingest this would be most beneficial.
An Hun. MEMBER said, he thought the effect of mak-
ing game property, would be to render country gentle-
men odious in the eyes of the nation, by giving them a
mercenary, sordid character, in converting that which
had hitherto been regarded as an exclusive source of
amusement into a means of lucre. He slid not stand up
as the defender of the game laws; but he was convinced
that it was impossible to put a stop to poaching by any
laws that could he devised; and the present laws were
so fitted and fashioned to their earl by the operation of
time, he thought any attempt at alteration would be
more like to defeat the object, than to pro to it.
Mr. IVARRE was fearful, that devise what laws they
would, the crime of poaching could not he eradicated.
He thought, however, that the present role of Game
Laws was productive of mach crime. He did not foresee
what others were to be substituted for them; and, in-
deed, in the conflict of argument and opinion, on either
side, it was difficult to come to any conclusion on the
subject; but as he thought there were many incongra•
ous laws relative to game, he should be glad to see a
Committee appointed to consider the matter.
Lord LOWTHER thought that there were may
things in the Game Laws that might, perbapkbe altered
for the better; but. upon the whole he could not but
consider them as serviceable.
Mr. HARBORD thought it was necessary to adopt
some measure to check the great increase of crime in-
duced by the operation of the present Gans* laws.
The great value of the laws which protected game
was to make many gentlemen live is the country for
the sake of the amusement. He dal not wish to un-
derrate the advantages arising to the nation at large
from this. but be really thought that those Gentle.
men whose only object in living on their estates was
the pleasure of shooting pheasants could inflict no
great loss. Oe the contrary, by their absence. The
present system of Game Laws he thought unjust, ar-
bitrary, oppressive, and pernicious, sad therefore any
change must he for the better.
Lord CRANBORNE shortly replied, and the House
divided,
For the Motion id
Against ft SS
Majority S‘
AGRICULTURAL HORS' TAX.

lir. CI7RWEN rose to bring forward hie promised
sooting for a repeal of the Tax ell Agneskorai Horses.
He did riot souteud that such a step would gin that
relief tit the Agriculturists which. in their present
state at suesamplod distress. they ;SW so touch le
need of; but still it would contribute somethiag to-
wards it. and woald certainly operate as a meet grate-
ful boos sussing from the Legislature of the country
a period.
tamers,

.. .a. ...

Plum Sunni

but kinexistouce as a farness was isoo:porated as it
went with the soplorseet of them. It followei
thereikre, ass consequence, that this tax mist in
many cases serve to repress the efforts of industry',
and lay an additional weight on what was already
horse down by distress, rather that leave it un-
shackled to effect its own recovery. There sever
could be a time whenever it would be sore wise, or

wore expedient to adopt a measure of this aeseriptioe,
is order to conciliate the farmers by showing a

_
williogaess to relieve the farmer u hr as pas--
Bible. This tax oo horses was as bad as a

tax oa the plough, the loom, or any other of
the ounchineey of industry. if the farmer had three
horses Aes be had to pay I. and if ho
eldigo4 tWettter bits as a saddle hone, and com-
pelled to pay I. 6d. for a groan. although the horse
wryer bad any thing bat a wisp of straw over his coat.
The whole charge to a farmer keeping these four
horses would be 10s., whkb, under the cirtuen-

stances, certainly must appear to be a most oppressive
tax, and which, he hoped, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer would consider, and by same other impost
find means to obviate the pressure of them upon the
agricultural classes. There was nothing of the prit.-
ciple of a tax in it, for, insteei of pressing equally
upon all, it bore only upon one class. His objections
were particularly strong against that part of it which
forced the farmer to enter one of his horses as a 'addl.-
horse, under certain circumstances, and pay a higher
rate of date for it as such. The Hon. &Wisher stated
a case of the hardship of those who had come under
his own consideration, in which an old was of seventy

years of age having been induced to join in a fox
chore, from the hounds crossing bis path, whilst he
was walking beside his horse laden with two sacks uf
potatoes, was fined and forced to pay for.it as a saddle-
horse. lie was sure the Chancellor of t:te Exchefine..,
if he took the matter into his consideration, might

easily find another mode of raising an Neal amount
of revenue from another and more equitable *siree. It
stas impossible that the country could continue to
prosper under the present system of taxation—'t
would become absolutely necessary that Ministers
should put the burdens more equally. and on those
who could hear them better than the agriculturists.
Until they were relieved, there would be nu prospect of
prosperity to the country. The taking cs:f this tax would
In equal to 2s. 641. a week to every agricultural labourer
In the kingdom, which would certainly be • very
greet relief. The Hon. Gentleman entered into an
onatnination of the image prospects of the orrice).
tsarist. He declared that the idea of throwing out
'epit eoteivation the inferior leads; could oiler be u-
complished. It would have the effect of throwing
out of labour a great portion of the agriculturist...
He asked his Hon. Friend the Member for Porter.
Ragusa (Mr. Ricardo), who so strongly advocated
the removal of the restriction on the importation of
corn, if he knew who were the great corn inerehairs
of the Continent just now, with whom we should have
to deal. in the event of that taking place? If he
did not, he would tell him that they were the Mo-
narchs of Europe. The King of Swedea wAs the last
great importer of oats into the country, and the
king of Denmark had at this moment a larger por-
tion of corn stored on the coasts of Holland ready
to pour into this country when the ports should ope:t.
He wished his lion. Friend could tell him whether
these great Poteuitat^ would be content to take hard-
ware, or pottery, or the manufactures of his country,
in return for their commodity. Nothing. he was con-
vinced would satisfy them but gold. and where were
we to get gold to give them ? If ever it should be
determined to pat inferior soils out of use, he hoped
it would he made incumbent spoil those who 011(100-
vowed to effect it to devise other means for the em-
ployment of the agricultural labourer. To fetartlan
the subject of his unction, he had particularly to com-
plain of the grievance felt under the system of sur-
charges, and the length of time before the derision of
the Judges could possibly be obtained. There was ono
instance of this kind of peculiar hardship. It was
the case of putting metallic springs to carts, which
had been found a great saving of horse labour, hut
which the farmer had been made to pay for as a gig.
'f his was a most vexatious proceeding, and he was
convinced, never entered into the inteatioe of the Le-
gislature The parties who bad suffered under this
gri , felt so confident that the decision of the
Judges would be favourable to them. that they con-
tinued to an metallic springs, till that decision.
twelve months afterwards, became known. thereby
greatly increasing the amount of the surcharges. If
the Chancellor of the Beekeeper would pat a tax ut
fire per cent. en income, which would bring in dos
feadholders as well as other interests. and take off the
leather tax and some others, it would be of ionmar.so
benefit to the country. The Hon. Gentleman con-
eluded by moving " For leave to being In a Bill to
repeal so touch of the Acts of the 4sth and 52d
of George the Third. as went to impose duties oft
agricultural and other horses engaged in husbandry.**
Mr. C. W. W YNN E seconded the motion. Ho
agreed with his Howourable Friend, the Mover. that it
was impossible that the poor /ands foold be cultivated
with any chance of remuneration to the farmer. H •
Also agreed with him that the p 'nest tax was a very
burdensome and oppressive tax; for it was impossible
that the poorest farmer could carry his produce to

market without losses.
Sir CHARLES BURRELL thneght, that as the
Agricultural Committee had not Tet made their re-
port, it was unnecessary for the House to entertain
this motion at present. At the muse time he was
much of the Honourable Mover's way, of thinking
with respect to this tax upon agricultural horses. No-
thing. he thought, amid skew the isspolicy of tie tan
snore than that de rich soils, sack an these which were
•

MO OCT w i SUWSW - -
stood coarse epos their tables. it web *perioir. This impost was oss whish pressed by sheep and marshy lards, did not reloiro
opus, all farmers. rich and pour, and apse as other to till Lbws. bat gold be adequately deos by
d the boows would parses before
ciao is the eousassity. Every farmer woe avowal Load's( this ileeeriptieballa out pay eau ta-
t woo a eimmiiierahle „,„), is rp. toted to am homes more or ism lelsWeemi towage able too. Ikasogratbe sabstltates that
whisk had -Mess o rempraily of his basis... ; it was net a tattler of shaft maid be proposed fee this tart ha thought sae sp .
lid sot etboceive that any abet- bins, wit requisite wily for the rteptee4 carrying 00 areew.hoeses sad hot-booms would be a were goo,l
Wbe bemeacisi. if the Noble the higher laid more keratin brooches-a his &lino toe. As it was the wish of the House, however, 414