The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-04-16
FROM LATE LONDON RArERs.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
sI,lpAY, JAN, 81.

nit motion for leave TO bring in q bill
Ter the abolition of siueoures, aud for
The reduction of the salcries oil those
Public oaicers which had been advanc.
ed OF lateyears.
in answer to question Fl ON MIR. { ur-
wen, Mr.. Vansittsrt stated that no plan
had, as yet, been prepared respecting
the Poor laws but he would, as soon
as possible, apprise the House OF the
Intentions Of his Majest'ys Ministers,
snd Civ. notice oil a motion ON the sub
Iect.
The Chancellor Of the exchruuer
moved, that congra,ulalocy address
be presented to the Regent en- the mar
rage OF the Duke and Duchess of Glou-
chester, and also to their Royal High
9esses- Ordered.
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer
stated that on I thursday next a motion
would be made for the appointment OF
committee oI the state Of the nation,
and ats income and expenditure.
Sir w. S. Ridley asked whether ii
was intended 20 bring in billto amend
and explain an act Of the last session, Ie-
lative to The liability Of Manufacturing
houses and shops to The window tax,
The Chancellor of the Exche quer re.
piled in the affirmative.
Sir William Lemon rose, to present
q Petition from the freeholders and
Their Inhabitants OF the county of Corn.
wall. lie observed that the Petitioners
felt the great pressure of taxation. but
endured il with patience and resigna
Iion, relying on the wisdom os Parlia-
ment TO afford them relief. They there
tore prayed the House 10 abolish all
Sinecure Places, 10 withdraw all unme.
ri;ed Pensions, and 10 reduce the exor-
bitant Salaries enjoyed by the higher
officers OF the Crown. The Petitioners
likewise felt the necessity of reform
in The House of Parliament, but they
wisely abstsined form proposing any
wild aud visionary measures, or desir-
ing that any rash experiments should
be triedthat might endanger the frame
oil the Constitution, but leaving the en-.
tire measure to The consideration and
wisdom of Parliament iiseif.-(Hear
hear, from ell taris Of the House. }
HE was extremely DESTROYS that a
committee should be appointed TO en-
quire into the State of the Nation, en-.
bracing this interesting but difficult
question aud, if a motion TO that eff,
lect were made, lie should gladly give
it his support
The Petition vas then read By the
CleIk. II lamented that the former
petition presented from the same CouE,
ty, il foyor of retrenehmeut in the pub
lie expenditure, had not been attended
with the desired Influence. 1t COM
iT;,,:.,;;2ed Of the defective state of the sys.
tenn of representation, and remarked,
that had The original purity Of the Son
slitu;ion been preserved in the House
Of Commons, the National Debt, which
at the death OF King William amounted
to only seven millions, would not now
exceed eleven hundred millions nor
would the standing army, which at the
conclusion of the Treaty of Ryswick a.
mounted only to 7o0o men, be now ex
tended to 10000. 1t concluded by
praying generally for the abolition Of
Sinecurcs sc & for Reform in the
Commons House Of Parliament.
Mr.. Brand stated, that he had been
requested TO give bis support in parlia.
meat to the petition then presented. and
this dug he was willing to perform. He
spoke of the public meeting at Corn
wall where the petition had been pre-
pared, ard complimen,ed the persons
who had appeared active at it, for their
prudence, learning, and elcquence -
The language OF the petition itself, its
good sense, sound reasoning, and sim
pie eioquence, struck him most forci-
! oily, when compared with the farrago OF
unconnected absurdities, which the
house had witnessed on the preceding
evening. lie lamented, that the Corn
wall Meeting that had taken place else.
where, on the subject of parliamentary
reform Tor he was convinced, that their
petition would have contained some
strong prcteat against the wild and dan
gerous doctrines that too generally pre-.
! vail throughout the country.
Mr.. Elliot observed, that the question
OF reform in parliament had become
one OF such general interest, that he
could not abstain from expressing ar
opinion on tic subject. He trustee
tina. in taking UP the question of re.
| form, the house, and he, would address,
himself particularly to the gen,lemer
| who advocated that measure, he hopec
| they TOO would pause before they touch