Star. — 1809-02-25 (London, England)

HARA. obtained leave to withdraw his Irish Conga. bin' Bill, and presented another, which was read a first time, and ordered for the second reading on the 11th of April. Mr. Alderman COMBE moved to postpone the consideration of the Report of the Committee on Pensions and Offices, front Tuesday neat until she llith Mardi. Mr. BLACKBURl'Mpresentlctaliditlob from the Working Cotton Manufacturers of Lancashire, praying a Bill for settling a minimum on the rates of wages. Mr. DAVIES GIDDY said, that averse as he was to any strong mark of discountenance to petitions coming from any class of subjects before that House, yet he felt it his duty, on the present occasion, out of lenity to the petitioners themselves, to give the earliest opposition to a petition, praying that which it was scarcely possible for the House in its wisdom to grant, because it would be the most ruinous principle which could be adopted in any country, namely, that of fixing by a law a minimum or a maximum to the price of labour, food, or any thing else, which in their very nature, must always fluctuate in different places according to local and temporary circumstances. Something of the kind was attempted during the French Revolution under Roberspierre, for settling a maximum on the price of provisions, and which was productive of the most dreadful consequences to the 'French nation. Were it adopted in the present case, it would have the effect of throwing almost perpetually out of employment immense numbers of the petitioners themselves, and aggravating, in at incalculable degree, the distresses of which they complained. He had taken much pains to inform himself on the subject of this petition, and the more he considered it, the more ruinous to the petitioners he saw would be a compliance with their request. Seeing, therefore, the utter impolicy of such a compliance, he thought the sooner they were taught to feel there were no hopes to be entertained that Parliament would accede to their eject, the greater would be the lenity shewn to them, and the more speedily would they be saved the further loss of time and expence, as well as restrained from tumult and disturbance. He should therefore move that the petition be dismissed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER coincided with the Hon. Gentleman as to the impossibility of complying with Ate petition, upon considerations of lenity towards the petitioners themselves. But he was against any proceeding that might have the appearance of harshness or discouragement towards any class of subjects, in exercising the right, common to all, of petitioning that House. He was, therefore, to think that the petition should be allowed to lie on the table, without, at the same time, holding out any hopes to the petitioners that it was likely to be complied with. Mr. CURWEN thought, if the petition Was referred to a Committee up stairs, some did might be suggested for the petitioners, who were really very much distressed. Mr. ROSE said, the subject had been before a Committee two years since which, after long and minute deliberation, could suggest no relief for the petitioners. It had occurred to him. that the same kind of regulation which had been found so salutary in the case of the silk manufacturers, namely, that of referring the regulation of the rates of workmanship to the Magistrates at the Quarter Sessions, might have the best aft tt ; but the idea of a maximum or minimum in the price of labour, provision, or cornmoditiesnf any kind, was totally inadmissible. If however, the House should think fit to refer this petition to a Committee, he would most readily attend it from day to day, and give every aid in his power. After a few words from Mr. ADAM and Mr. PATTISON, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND presented his bill to amend the Laws respecting child murder in Scotland.—Read the first time, and ordered for the second reading on Tuesday next. Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved for an account of the sums disbursed tram the various departments of the Revenue in Ireland, under the head of Incidents, for the last three years, and the authorities on which they were disbursed.—Ordered. A petition was presented by Mr.