House Of Commons, Wednesd...
The Times, 1824-02-26T00:00:00

AtMr. L X iN presented a petition from the inbabitaksfs of the parislt Of St. Catherine, irl the precinct-s of the Tower, praying that leave might not be granted to bring in a bill founded on tnd petition or ertain merchants of London"I to construcet additional docks in the space betveen the Tower of London and the Londonl Docks, with w arehouses and other works, to be~appropriated for the puI ses of landing, housing, bonding, and-slping of. all goods, w and tnerchandises-" Trhhe reasoyn whvah5icnh hard cel;>ed e Petitioners present thispettio was tht tey hd nt rceived any notice of such a measure beint in contemplation until the conmmencement of the Ar. ALIVERT said, that when the bill in question should be rougt in, he should have several petitions from his constituents to present against it. If the contemplated dock were constructed, the ittle trade that was now left to the Surrey side of the river would be very likely to desert it entirely. The petition was ordered to remain on the table. Alr. GRENFELL brought up the report on the petition of the- merchants of London, praying for leave to bring in a bill to con- struct certain docks, &e. in tse parish of St. Catherine. As the report of the committee stated that the standing orlers had not been complied with it would be necessary for him to move that, in this case, they be aispensed with, and that the notices, which are usuallw, given to tire parties interested before the opening of Parliament, be allowed to bc given at the next Easter Sessions. After the motion had been seconded and read from the cbair, Lr. CA LVERT rose and objected to it, stating that no grounds had or couid be shown sufficient to justify such a deviation from the standinig orders of the house. A long and desultory discussion took place on this point of form, in whichi MIr. CURwEj.N, ALr. Alderman Tuotspsoiw, Air. WAL- LACE, Dr. P55LL13oRE, Mlr. BARISG, and some otbermeinm hers, contended that the standing orders ought to be rescinded; and M r. BRIGHT, Llr. LITTLETOS, Mr. Alderman HEYGATE, .Mr. BYNG, and others, contended to the contrarv. The house di- vided, when there appeared- For illr. (Irenfell's motion, 781 Aeainst it, 301 Majority, 48. TAX ON SHEM.8111S' D)OGS. Lord LOWTHER presented a petition from thle sheplherds of Westmorland, praying for a repeal of the duty upon their dogs. ir. ELLICE said, that the tax was tantamount to a tax upon Working tools; and that, though the amount was small, it pressed heavily upon persons who had no money to spare. Ilr. CURWVEN supoorted the petitioII. Air. DAVENPORT presented a petition from Chester against the repel of the duty on siLk. Lord LOWTHER, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, and Sir p HARSEY, prcserted petitions from Aldringham, Ashburton, ana Croydon, against the duty on coal. M1r. AIABERI,Y gave notice, that on Tuesday, the 9th of Miarch, he would submit a motion to the house on the subject of beer and malt. Lord BIN'NING presented a petition from distillers in Scotland, praying for an equalization of the duties on Scorchaand Irish whiskey, is regarded importation into England. Alr. KENNEDY said that the measure of last session had done much to check illicit distillation in Scotland ; but unless the subject of the petition was attended to, a system of smuggling, it was to be feared, would be introduced. lIord A. HAMILTON repeated his question of a former evening *a .S?.'seBEw>s~ eewps. SrosXvsvltnf adt W usxt been' recesleu, the effect of which he Nwould shortly lay before the house. Mir. DENISON presented a petition from certain licensed v:c- :uallers against the duty on excise licences. iMIr. STUART W( RTIdY presented petitions to the same elfect, from the licensed victuallers of U'etherbv and Beverley. Mlr. AABERLY moved for sun(ry papers and documents con- nected witl the redemption of land-tax in the last year. Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY rose to bring forward his motion for an inquiry how far the coin of the realm nnight be adapted to tde- cimal calculation. The hon. baronet's plan was, to abolish the ef isting shillings, pence, and lhalf-pence, and to reduce the current coin into pounds, double shillings, and farthings. In this way 1Xi ti'arthings would make a double shilling, and 10 double shillings, or 1,000 farthings, would amount to a pound; and pounds would be converted (arithmetically) into farthings, or farthings into pounds, by simply adding or subtsacting three ciphers to the right hand. The convenience of such a mode of keeping acounts cotild not be doubted. and it liaed been adopted in France for 30 years past. Of course it would be necessary,to prevent inconvenience,thatit shouldibe carried into efl'cctat the samernmoment allover thekingdorn.Thisinight easily, however, be accomplished by fixing some dayfor its absolnte commencement, and enacting that, up to that appointed day, all transactions sbould be in the old style. The hon. bhrt. concluded ey moving, tbat an aedress sheuld be presented to the Crown upon the subiect. Mir. WALLACE did not think that there was such a want of practical convenience about our present coin. as to lay a ground for the change which the non. bart. meditated. No doubt there would be advantages attending it, but not enough, he thoughr, to contpeD- sate the inconveniences. The system ha been adopted certainlv in France; but that was at the time of the revolution, wvhen a re-orgs- nization w as taking place throughout all the institutions ofthecountrV. The present modeof division in the value of the coinage was adasted te the current nffairs of the community-was interwoven with tn' daily customs and habits; and any alteration, lhowever good in vie abstractedly must work great inconvenience to those whoni the hoa. baronet proposed to benefit. Innovations and change were alwap to be looked at with jealousy; and much more so, when there was llt adequate benefit likelv to arise to compensate the risk of alteratioa The rigit hon. sent. (as we understood him), referring to some of th olbservations of the hon. mover, adnmitted that grcat inconvenienrm *lid arise frotu the ditference between the currency of England ai Ireland, and promised that a measure should be proposed by tu Governtnen t to the Parliatnent before longto remedy iL Mr. HUMllE understood that a committee had been appointed ts consider of this subject, together with that of the weights and mea s,ure. He wished to know if the commis-Aionevsa ad sat? Had the" made a report? Was it laid on the table? What statement di; they make of their opinion upon it? Air. D. GILBERT said that the committee had sat upot weigbts and measures, but never upon the divisions of the currert After a few words from Sir H. PARSEI.L. and Mr. T. WLasoN, Sir J. WROTTESLEV consented not to press his motion to division, though he trusted that the-young men in the bcise woel' live to see the principle of his measure carried into tesect. AMotion negatived without a division. COMMISSIONERS OF REVEN' UE. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUERruoved for therm newal of the comm ission which had been so usefully employod ? the last year iinvestigating the concerns of the revenue of Irelan and England. He felt that he should not do justice, if' he did nr seize the opportunity of acknowledging the great advantage whic the public service had derived fronm the simuxltaneous efforts of at othaer commission, at the head of which was Ihis right hon. friend ti Paymiaster of the Forces. The report nsade by them hod bae taken as the ground of many valuable regulations in tb4,kt)o and excise of this country; and the perseverance and acateviMom Icdge displayed by them could not be too highly commenided. Mr. HUAIE asked if it was the intention of those commigsione to direct their exertions to the same subject which had occupied the last year. There were many things In the customs on this side the Cbannel which deserved their attention equally with the custer of Ireland. Sir C. LONG acknowledged the gratification which mrst be f. by himself and the other comnlisioners in receiving the tribute, praise which htis right honottrabsle friend was pleased to psy to the labouis-He wvas hap'py to say that their exertisons had been deetb moswt usefli evcry sutggestiOn which they had made had been ado 8 ezd with entre success. It was not for hni to sav whether ther bouis should be directed to the very same subject agaifi; but tb would proceed with as much activity and perseverance as 'ef? wh-rever these exertions shou-ld be wanted. The motion was carried. DELAYS IN TRE COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. LEAKE stated, that in consequence of what had passed]! iht respecting the delays in the (ourt of Chancery, he consld4' of respect to the house, (although he believed it',c not absolutely necessary, in point of form that be should do so)c qusint them., that it was not his intention to bring forward measures upon that subject of which he hadl givev notice in the session. POOR LAWS. MIr. NOLAN obtained leave to bring in a bill to reforra- amend the poor lavs. AMr. CURTEIS recommended that it should be put to the opg of paupers applying for relief to enter the arFDv or navy. WErIGRTS AND MEASURES. I Sir GEORGE CLERK moved for leave to bring in a WI ascertaining and establishing uniformity in veights and messs Air. D. GILBERT said that the committee, following the tions of a royal commission which had been appoisted, had iQ their utmost to arrive at some common standara to be found inl!t t-re, which mght he introduced with the leastineranvenience tC' isting `habitt.Leave granted. - SCOTCH JURIES. ' fr. KENNED.Y.obtaired. lease to bring in aibill to i mode in wlich uries arWe chosen to serve in the 4ministrati0ts 0,:. criminal. law of Scotland. WNGLISH AND ULISL INTEkCOURSE. Sir H. PARNELL moved for copies of all erders ianed b4 gea sary, ir mq%iiv wi gsi the act 4 (Qore,IV. , for the Boaidsoa Cuttoms nd xcise in the two countries; also various o'the erp relating to their commercial intereotsrse.-Ordered. .HUir. U31-comnplained oftbe use madeoccasionally, both in this md the upp-r house, of returns made to show the rate of consump- tion of vaTious articles charged with excise or custom duties, or bot whichreturmn were by far too partial for the interests of truth and accuracy. He moved for returns of all articles charged with excise drttics fbr the last ten years, ending Jan. 5, 184, distinguishing the armount of the articles consumed, the difflerent rates of duties levied, toggether with the dates and amounts of any increase or decrease. Tihe same motion with regard to articles charged with customs only, sshere the total duty did not rise to 50,000L in the course of any one year-Ordered. AUSTRIAN LOANS. Mr. HTJAIE moved for accounts of all sums paid into the Trea- -sury in liquidation of the Austrian loan, agreeably to the conven- IiOn signed at Vienna in 1823. Also cf the total debt noVr due, to- tether with tbe annual charge for the samoe paid out of the Treasury Since 179&-Ordered. Atr. E UMIS, then moved for copies of the proposals presented at the Treasury by the contractors for the new Austnan loan. .Mr. HERR1'ES said, that by the motion it would seem as if the non, mermber thought that Government had anv thin to do with the selection of thlt coontractors. The fact was, that they came before the Trasury as the representatives of the Austrian Government, and Ministers had nothing to do but receive their proposals. The SOLICITOR-GENERAIL thought that this motion ought not to pass in the absence of those respectable gentlemen who wvere chiefly interested. Sir. HUMtE gave notice of the saine motion for to-morroWv. On the brindung up of the Austyian loan agreement report, Mr. IIUMIE again comnlained of the terims in which the agree- ertnt uith Messrs. R Pid, Irving, and Co.. had been concluded, and contended, that if instead of a close contract. the 30 millions of Austrian stock had been brought into the open market, instead of paying S r,r cent. the money could have been got at 3., or 4 per cent. Sir. RE RRIES said, that the honourable gentleman's objec- tions were founded on his persisting in not choosing to understand that the agreement as to the mode of paymwent preceded the conven- tion with Austria. Mlr. HlUME explained. The 5-cort wasthen agreed to, and ttebillordered to be broughtin. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adiourned. - - HOUSE OF COMNfOo.R o - -