The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-05 00:00:00

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STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK,
...a 9174 1 Indio Stock .... ....... ~...
_ . Ct. Red einii ( Ditto Bonds... 38s. Slls.pte.
11jhet.Cows. •
Si per Cent. ... .. ..99} 10001.
...
4 per Cent... .. .... 97if 5OOl. 19s 91s 201 pet.
New Fours —Small 19 Ins —s pm
Long Ann
_.2og 7-1114 LotteryTtekets ..... 161. be.
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gite atatontan.

THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 5, 1823.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMENTARY.
BREACH Or PRIVILIEGR.
The 'miry of the House of Commons was a little re-
lieved last night, by Mr. Jones, who called its attention to
that whimsical thing called a breach of prieilegr—an of-
fence committed every day with impenit).and one which, hap-
pily most continue to be tommitted as long as the House re-
mains what It is. The offending party was the Editor of the
Morning Chronicle. and the particular offence coLsisted in
Ike (41 owing words :
" The small majority of six last night in a House of 198,
Is perfectly &Calve ef the sentiments of Members with re-
aneet to the-abominable proceedings in the ease of Borth-
wick. An analysis of that majority will be a curious exhibi-
tion. We Should like to see the names, they must be most
valuable partisans ; they are, evidently, not men to stick at'
a little."
What could induce the Hon.:Umber to imagine there was
any thing particular In this, we cannot eoocei re; but we are'
afraid be is not • newspaper reader, in general, or his com-
plaints to the Honourable House of certain similar liberties
would have commenced a long while ago. We really hope
be will not examine our labours with so fastidious an eye ;
for Heaven knows, that with all the respect we bear towards
the Collective Wisdom of the country, we are often tempted
to smile at its proceedings ; and we have more than once
caeght ourseives,with a strong inclination to laugh outright;
but, the danger of the matter has kept' our risible faculties
alder a sober restraint. Yet we might hate penned * much
stronger paragraph than the one which offended Mr. Jones,
without any hesitation. We do not indeed •gather any eon-
elation from the smallness of the majority ; for we know
that if necessary it would have been larger; and we know
also that what Hon. Members think in the House has ect
necessary connection with what they do. Mr. Jones himself
Is a proof of this. He declares that ".the proceedings
against Borthwick were unjust, oppressive. and illegal ; and
yet he voted that they were not so, in effect ; for he voted for
an impunity to the authors of them. To be sure, be said he
would have voted to punish the immediate agents of the in-
joatiectowards Borthwlek, had the motion been confined to
thed,;- but when the Honourable Mover aimed at higiteti
game, and levelled his arrows at the Lord Advocate, who
was so much worse than the inferior offenders, that lie did
not repair the injury which had been perpetrated in the vir-
tue, or rather in the rice, of his authority—then he would
not vote for the censure! flo much for Mr. Jones's consist-
ency ; and of.'this quality the " majority" was doubtless
composed. Not one of them'but would snow that Borthwick
bad been haidly dealt with; No one could deny this. Bot to
punish a Minister I—We repeat it, it was drowning a lobster.
There is uo piercing the " thick array of the thronged 11.0- '
coos of 11. e Treasury Bench." 'l'be " Majority" entrenched
in *t. Stephen's, sit igterrible judgment upon Newspaper
Molitor' wbo venture to call them partisans,and tosay "they
will not stick at a little." Yet it must be admitted they
are very cautious of offeoging the sacred know of the
Hots Alliance!—And they do most manfully. stick at
every proposition for Reform.
' THE pave LAWS.. • •
Another attempt is about tube Made by Colonel=
to amend the Poor Laws; and a repeal of the
law of settlement forms a leading port of his 011111111611.,
improrenarat. The principle of the Poor Law., Ste are
satisfied. capoot be materially interfered with; nor do
we think that it ought to he. Our system has o direct
tendency tkosake and to keep the multitude pour. The
stoormoss drain of Unitise. and the immetme puce
which ovary species of goverisinent. at odes local or go.