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218.

Register-Parliamentary Intelligence.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Monday, Feb. 9.-A person from the Mint-office presented the accounts of the gold and silver coinage.

Feb. 10.-A person from the bank presented an account of the sums received and expended during the last year by the com missioners for the reduction of the national debt.

The Irish grand jury presentment suspension bill was read a third time and passed.

Feb. 11. After receiving an account of the number of promissory notes stamped in the last three years, the house adjourned till Friday.

Feb. 13. No business of public interest. Feb. 17. The thirty millions Exchequer bills' bill, and the malt duties bill, were read a first time.

Feb. 18.-The royal assent was given, by commission, to the Irish grand jury presentment suspension bill.

The thirty millions Exchequer bills' bill, and the malt duty bill, were read a second time.

Feb. 19.On the thirty millions Exchequer bills' bill being committed, a short conversation arose on the finances, between Earl Grosvenor, Earl Liverpool, and Lord Holland; when Earl Liverpool stated, that the whole revenue of the country, in which he included the sinking fund, (Hear, hear,) was more than sufficient to cover all the charges of the national debt, and all the other expences of the Government.

Feb. 20.-About one o'clock Lord SIDMOUTH came down to the House; the counsel, who were at the bar on an appeal case being ordered to withdraw, his Lord ship laid on the table, by command of the Prince Regent, a green bag, containing farther papers relative to the state of the country. On the motion of the Noble Viscount, this bag, which was larger than either of the two previously brought down, was ordered to be referred to the secret Committee.

The thirty millions Exchequer bills' bill, and the malt duty bill, were read a third time and passed.

Feb. 23. The royal assent was given, by commission, to the thirty millions Exchequer bills' bill, and the malt duty bill.

Lord HOLLAND presented a petition from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of London, praying that a rigid inquiry might be instituted into the conduct of ministers respecting the passing of the bill for the sus

pension of the act of Habeas Corpus, &c.
Laid on the table.

The Duke of MONTROSE brought up
examine and consider the papers presented
the report of the committee appointed to
to the house by order of the Prince Re-
gent.

The Committee were of opinion that the Government had exercised the powers vested in it, by the two acts of last session, with due discretion and moderation; and also that the magistrates in the several disturbed districts, by their activity and vigilance, materially contributed to preserve the public peace.

The report was laid on the table, and, on the motion of the Duke of MONTROSE, ordered to be printed.

Earl GROSVENOR observed, that the report contained no proof that the state of the country required such measures as those which had been adopted on the recommendation of ministers.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE thought, as so much of this report referred to those of last session, it would be proper for their Lordships to have those reports before them. He therefore moved that the two reports presented to the house by the Secret Committees of last session be printed. Ordered.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL, in moving that the house should adjourn, stated, that on Wednesday a noble friend of his would move for leave to bring in a bill founded on the report just presented to the house.

Feb. 24 and 25.-No business of public interest.

Feb. 26.-Lord HOLLAND presented a petition, purporting to be from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery of London, in Common Hall assembled, praying that the bill of indemnity might not pass, &c. His Lordship said the petition was signed twelve Common Councilmen, which he unby the Lord Mayor, two Aldermen, and derstood was the number requisite to condon. stitute a Common Hall of the city of Lon

A very arduous debate took place on the motion for the second reading of the indemnity bill, which cannot be abridged, and which it is impossible for us to give entire. Lord SIDMOUTH defended the employment of spies, but said he disdained the system of espionage, and he vindicated On a division there were for the sethe character, motives, and conduct of Olicond reading-Contents, 56; Proxies, 44 100.-Non-Contents, 15; Proxies, 1833. Majority, 67.

ver.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Monday, Feb. 9.-The Hon. Mr BENNET obtained leave to bring in a bill to prevent the practice of using climbing boys to sweep chimneys. The object of the bill was to prevent the employment of boys under fourteen years of age.

The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and read.

A considerable debate ensued on the motion of Lord CASTLEREAGH, that the house do go into a committee on the treaties with Spain for the abolition of the Slave Trade.

For the motion 56; Against it 4.-Majority 52.

The report was then ordered to be brought up to-morrow.

Feb. 10. A number of private petitions for enclosure bills, &c. were received.

Sir JAMES MACINTOSH moved for accounts of the receipt of droits of the Crown or Admiralty, from February 1793, till the corresponding period of the present year; and for a summary account specifying from what nation they were derived, and their application. After a few words from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, the accounts were ordered.

Lord A. HAMILTON, pursuant to the notice given by him on a former night, rose to bring forward his motion on the subject of the late legal proceedings and state prosecutions in Scotland. It appeared from his Lordship's statement, that among the individuals apprehended last year at Glasgow, on charges of seditious practices, was one John Campbell, whom the Government were anxious to bring forward as a principal witness against M Kinley, about to be tried for treason at Edinburgh; and to induce Campbell to give evidence, Mr Home Drummond, the advocate depute, had various interviews with him in gaol, when, as his Lordship alleged, he tampered with Campbell, holding out to him hopes of reward if he would consent to become witness against M'Kinley, and threatening him in case of refusal. On resisting these offers, it further appeared that Mr Drummond assured Campbell that if he would give such information as would please the Lord Advocate, he should neither be tried nor called as a witness. Campbell at length gave his consent to become a witness, but on Sir W. Rae, the sheriff, arriving to take his depositions, and hearing the confession read, including the consideration of a passport abroad, and money to convey his wife, he declared he would not sign it; for that, as an officer of the King, it was his duty to see justice done; and it was impossible for the prisoner to swear (as prescribed by the Scots law) that he had not been promised any reward. On the trial of M'Kinley, Campbell was not

examined, and the prisoner was acquitted. The Noble Lord contended this was subornation of perjury, and he put it to the house to reflect what would have been the situation of the parties concerned in this transaction, if, in consequence of a conviction, M'Kinley had been executed or transported, and these circumstances had afterwards come to light. For it was to be remembered, that all this was intended to be kept secret, and that a conviction might have taken place, had Campbell performed his part in the way that seemed to be expected. His Lordship concluded with moving for a copy of the record of the trial.

The LORD ADVOCATE of SCOTLAND defended himself and the other law officers from the charge, by stating, that, according to the forms of the Scotch law, the counsel for the Crown must have intercourse with the witnesses. The Lord Advocate was not only the public accuser, but he was also a police magistrate, and constantly applied to for advice on every public occasion. There being no resident administration in Scotland, he is bound, in order to preserve the public peace, to take steps for obtaining information when the lives of the subjects are put in danger, so that he may counteract any measures tending to disturb the tranquillity of the kingdom. Not so the Attorney-General. In point of fact, the Lord Advocate is the Grand Jury of Scotland. He denied that any attempt had been made to lead the witness, or to induce him to state any thing but the whole truth. He therefore was borne out in contending, that there was nothing illegal in the examination, nor in the promises held out, nor in the indulgences granted. From all these considerations, he insisted that the Noble Lord had not made out a case for producing the record, nor had he furnished Parliamentary grounds for interfering with the administration of the courts of law in Scotland.

After a lengthened discussion, in which Mr J. P. Grant, Lord Castlereagh, and others participated, the house divided :-For the motion of Lord A. Hamilton 71

Against it 136-Majority 65.

Feb. 11.-The house went into a Committee of Supply, when Lord CASTLEREAGH moved, in terms of the treaty, that a sum not exceeding L. 400,000 be allowed to his Majesty for the purpose of giv ing effect to the treaty with the Spanish Government for the abolition of the Slave Trade. After a short discussion the resolution was read and agreed to, and the report ordered to be received to-morrow.

Mr FAZAKERLEY said, he rose in conformity to the notice which he had a few days since given, to submit a motion that the Committee of Secrecy now sitting should be instructed to inquire what mea

sures had been instituted against the persons mentioned in the report of last session, as having fomented the disturbances which took place in different parts of the country.

Mr B. BATHURST replied to Mr FAZAKERLEY, and saw no ground for the motion, and Mr C. Grant, jun., the Solicitor General, Mr Canning, and Lord Castlereagh, followed on the same side. The motion was supported by Lord Milton, Mr Bennet, Sir S. Romilly, and Mr Tierney.

Mr WILBERFORCE thought the motion could not be complied with, but expressed his opinion decidedly against the employment of spies and informers.

Mr FAZAKERLEY replied.We had heard of revolutionary times, but it appeared to him that the present times were not without danger, for there seemed to be a constant approach to an alienation of the government from the people. The house then divided: Ayes 53; Noes 111; Majority 58.

Feb. 12. In the consideration of the report of the election laws amendment, which was committed to a committee of the whole house, a clause was added, which conferred on the returning officer, during an election, and for a day afterward, the power of a justice of the peace.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that a petition from the president and members of the Board of Agriculture should be received. It was ordered to be brought in and laid on the table. It prayed for a grant in order to effect some purposes connected with the object of the board.

Several petitions were presented from individuals who had been apprehended under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act; their prayer was against a bill of indemnity, and for inquiry into the truth of the allegations contained in their petitions. They were severally ordered to be printed.

A petition from the inhabitants of St George's, Hanover-square, on the subject of Parliamentary reform, was rejected for containing these words:" If the house would not listen to their complaints, or grant the required reform, they would most certainly resist paying taxes.'

Several other petitions were presented from certain inhabitants of Bath, praying for universal suffrage and annual parliaments. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr BROGDEN brought up the report of the Committee of Supply, which was agreed to, and the bill ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

Feb. 16.-Lord STANLEY presented a petition from a place in Lancashire, praying for the repeal of the corn bill, for a parliamentary reform, and for the dis

missal of the ministers: likewise a petition from persons above sixteen years of age, employed in the cotton manufactory at Bolton-le-Moors, praying for regulations as to the hours of work daily: and a petition from owners and occupiers of cottonmills in and about Manchester, which represented that parliamentary interference with the management of their trade was wholly unnecessary.-Ordered to lie on the table.

The House went into a committee on the chimney-sweepers' regulation bill, in which the Hon. Mr BENNET observed that it was a desirable object to abolish the practice of employing chimney sweeping boys altogether, after the 1st of May 1819.

Some verbal amendments were made and agreed to, and the report was brought up and received.

Feb. 17.-The annual indemnity bill, as to the qualification for offices, &c. was read a first time.

Feb. 18. The election laws bill was committed, and after a long conversation (during which, a clause, enacting that the poll should close, unless 400 were polled by the evening of the second day of election, was withdrawn) the bill was ordered to be recommitted to-morrow.

Feb. 19.-Sir ROBERT PEEL obtained leave, and brought in a bill to amend and extend an act of the 40th of the present King, for preserving the health and morals of apprentices and others employed in cotton mills and factories.

Feb. 20.-A petition from Liverpool against the salt-duties; and a petition from the leather trade in Worcester, were presented, and laid on the table.

The chimney-sweepers' regulation bill was read a third time.-The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned.

Feb. 23.-A petition was presented from Chester, praying alterations in the duties on leather: others to the same effect were presented by Mr CURWEN, from Whitehaven, Workington, Cockermouth, Maryport, Egremont, and Keswick. They were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr Sheriff DESANGES presented the city petition against an indemnity bill, which was read and ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed.

Mr D. GILBERT brought up the report of the Committee of Income and Expenditure, which was ordered to be laid on the table, and to be printed.

Feb. 24.-General GASCOYNE presented a petition from the leather manufacturers of Liverpool.

Mr BENSON hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would make provision for the repeal of the additional duties on leather, before he brought out the budget.

Sir JAMES MACINTOSH rose to submit

1818.

to the house the motion of which he had given notice respecting forgeries on the Bank of England. His object was to bring under the view of the house, the evil of the multiplication of crimes, by stopping bank payments. In order, therefore, to ascertain the real increase or abatement of crime, he moved for the numbers prosecuted for coining or altering the current coin, gold or silver, during the fourteen years preceding the restriction, and during the period since then to the 25th day of February 1818, distinguishing the convictions and punishments.

Mr BENNET suggested that the motion should be for the numbers committed or prosecuted during the several periods. Sir JAMES MACINTOSH acceded.

Mr GRENFELL said it was important to know what proportion of crimes and punishments arose from L. 1 or L. 2 notes. Almost all who were convicted of these forgeries were low persons, who could not have an opportunity of committing the same crime as to notes of a higher amount.

The several motions were agreed to. Feb. 25.-Mr BROUGHAM rose to request the further attention of the house to the subject of blood-money. It had been stated that Brock, Pelliam, and Power, had received a pardon; but he wished to know whether they were not to be indicted for a conspiracy.

Mr BATHURST said, it was not in his power to give any further explanation on the case of these persons.

The ATTORNEY GENERAL said, that an objection had been taken by the prison

ers at the trial, and the point was reserved
in the usual way. The case was then ar-
gued by counsel, and the judgment of the
court was delivered as the judgment which
decided the case.

Feb. 26.-Mr Alderman WooD pre-
sented a petition from the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Livery of the city of Lon-
consequence
don, praying against the passing of an act
of indemnity for ministers, in
of any proceedings under the suspension of
the Habeas Corpus act.

Mr BRAGGE BATHURST presented the
report of the Secret Committee. It was
brought to the table by the Right Hon.
gentleman, and there read by the clerk.

After the reading, a debate took place; the motion for printing the report was op posed by Mr TIERNEY, on the ground that it was wholly useless, as all who were resolved to believe any thing required no report, and those who wished to make up their mind wanted evidence.

Lord CASTLEREAGH defended the course that had been pursued, as wise and effective, and assured the house that the same dangers would be met with the same firmness of spirit and vigour of action.-In conclusion the report was ordered to be printed.

Mr R. WARD brought up papers containing an account of the expences in the ordnance department incurred by the army of occupation in France, under the command of the Duke of Wellington.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned till Monday.

BRITISH CHRONICLE.

FEBRUARY.

7.---The Public Debt.-Amount of the public funded debt of Great Britain, distinguishing the redeemed and unredeemed, together with the annual charge thereon, and the Sinking Fund applicable to the discharge thereof, on the 5th of January

1818:

Great Britain, including Ireland, funded
therein, consolidated per 56th Geo. III.
c. 98.

Public Funded Debt L.1,106,759,615

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Charge, exclusive of Sink-
ing Fund, estimated at
Sinking Fund, estimated at

Total Annual Charge,
estimated at

L. 27,868,439 13,847,137

L.41,713,576

By the 57th Geo. III. c. 48, the Sinking Fund accounts terminate on the 5th of January in each year, instead of the 1st of February, as heretofore.

Revenue of Ireland.-The amount of the net produce of the revenue of Ireland, as paid into the Exchequer for the year ended the 5th of January 1817, was L. 4,394,461; and for the year ended the 5th of January 1818, L. 4,388,007.

Issue of Gold and Silver Coin. The amount of sovereigns issued last year was L. 3,224,025; half sovereigns L.1,037,295.

282

Total L. 4,261,320.-Silver: half crowns L. 1,125,630; shillings L. 2,458,566; sixpences L.657,162. Total L. 4,241,358. Grand total of gold and silver L.8,502,678. Bank Notes. The amount of Bank of England notes in circulation, on the 12th of January last, was L. 30,619,440, being something above two millions more than on the corresponding day of January 1817. The increase is entirely in notes above L.5; in the smaller notes there has been a decrease of about L. 750,000.

The Army. The army estimates for the year 1818 have been printed, by order The total of the House of Commons. number, including officers and non-commissioned officers, is 133,539; from which are to be deducted the troops in France, and the regiments for service in India, amounting to 42,892. There will then remain, exclusive of corps, &c. intended for reduction, 90,647. To this last number is to be added corps ordered home from India, viz. 4299, and charges for corps to be reduced in 1818, viz. 4200, making together 99,146. From these again are to be deducted the corps ordered home from India, 4299, and there remains to be provided for in 1818, a total of 94,847 men, including officers. The total expence of providing for this army is estimated at L.6,494,290, 10s. 4d. of which L.5,313,232, 9s. is to be defrayed by Great Britain, and L.1,181,058, 1s. 4d. by Ire

land.

Monument to Burns.-After considering the variety of plans, sent to the committee, from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other parts, the committee have resolved to adopt one by Mr Thomas Hamilton jun., architect in Edinburgh, to whom they have accordingly voted the premium of 35 guineas; but Mir Hamilton has generously requested that this sum may be added as his subscription to the undertaking. The monument, according to Mr Hamilton's design, is triangular, and constructed in such a manner as to admit of a circular apartment of 17 feet in diameter. It will be upwards of sixty feet high, and will have a very imposing and pleasing appearance, and does great credit to the classical taste of the artist.

11.-Challenge to Lord Sidmouth. On Saturday the 7th, Lord Sidmouth appeared in the Court of King's Bench, and claimed its protection against a person of the name of Thistlewood, well known as one of the persons tried last year along with Watson senior, for high treason. The pretence for the challenge was, that he had frequently applied to Lord Sidmouth for redress of certain alleged grievances, and as his Lordship treated his communications with neglect, he had no recourse left, but to demand satisfaction as a gentleman. The Court issued a warrant for

the apprehension of Thistlewood, who has
been committed to stand trial for the of-
fence.

Caledonian Exhibition.-On Monday
evening, the English Opera House opened
with a new species of entertainment, under
the patronage of his Royal Highness the
A troop of Highlanders
Duke of Sussex.
brought from Scotland for the purpose,
exhibited their skill in bag-piping, danc-
ing, broad-sword fighting, and other exer-
cises of their country, to the admiration of
a London audience.

14.-Calamitous Fire. This morning, a little after five o'clock, the large cotton-mill of Mr Thomas Atkinson, at Colnediscobridge, near Huddersfield, was vered to be on fire; and though every exertion was used to extinguish the flames, the whole of it was burnt to the ground. But the most calamitous and dreadful part of this misfortune is yet to relate; for in consequence of the fire beginning near the staircase, the retreat of a number of the children was cut off, and upwards of 14 girls, who had been working all night in the factory, perished in the flames. 'I he loss of these poor children, in such a horrible manner, can alone be imputed to avarice and inhumanity, which compelled them to labour during the hours that nature devotes to repose; and this melancholy event will no doubt plead powerfully in favour of the petitions recently sent to Parliament, praying its interference in shortening the hours of labour in the manufactories.

Suicide of Sir Richard Croft.-On the morning of the 12th, Dr Croft, the accoucheur who attended the Princess Charlotte, shot himself in the house of a gentleman near London, whose lady he was profession. ally attending. Sir Richard had been observed to be in a very distressed state of mind ever since the melancholy death of the Princess Charlotte. The lady whom he was attending, when he committed the desperate act, was afterwards delivered by another accoucheur, but she died a few days after.

It

19.-Shocking Murder.-On the evening of Monday or Tuesday last, a most inhuman murder was committed on the person of Elizabeth Low, a widow about 75 years of age, residing in the centre of the populous village of Dunning. would appear, by the marks of violence which she exhibited on her body, that the monster by whom this diabolical deed was perpetrated, had effected his bloody purpose by a single blow with an axe, so as to fracture completely the skull. The mur derer afterwards carried off every moveable article in the house. Several men and a woman have been apprehended on suspi cion, and lodged in the jail of Perth.

26.Infamous Conspiracy. Another

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