reading of the bill to repeal the additional duty on leather.

Mr C. GRANT proposed an amendment, that the bill be read this day six months.

Mr LUSHINGTON said, the tax could not be repealed without the substitution of some other that would press more directly on the public.

Mr BROUGHAM contended the contrary; instancing the repeal of the property-tax, a substitute for which was dispensed with, by revising and reducing the estimates; and he conceived that the reduction of 5000 or 6000 men would do far more than cover the deficiency occasioned by the repeal of the leather duty.

Mr HUSKISSON stated, that the one was a tax granted to assist in carrying on the war, while the other formed no part of the supply of the year, but was carried to the Consolidated Fund, for the payment of the interest of the national debt; so that as long as the whole amount of the permanent taxes were not more than equal to their object, the faith of Parliament stood pledged to the country not to repeal any of them without introducing others to an equal amount.

The House then divided-Ayes, 130; Noes, 136-Majority against the bill, 6.

Wednesday. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from Royton, Lancashire, couched in strong language, praying reform.The petition was rejected by 42 against 14, in consequence of charging the House with being governed by "selfish principles."

His

Thursday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the order of the day, and commenced by some observations as to opening the cash-payments at the Bank in the present year. He had postponed discussions on this subject as long as he could, as he was desirous of knowing fairly whether the Bank was so situated as to be able, with propriety, to resume cash payments. The result of his inquiries was this-that he did not think it consistent with the security and safety of the public interests, that cash-payments should be renewed at an early period of the present year. duty was to call the attention of the House to the circumstances which appeared to him to render it extremely unadvisable for the Bank to return to cash payments at the present moment. These circumstances were the bad harvest of 1816, and specie sent abroad to purchase corn; the emigration and residence of individuals abroad, 90,230 having embarked at Dover from 1814 to February 24 last; of these 12,700 remained abroad, whose average expenditure he calculated at L.2,540,000 2-year; the residence of our army in France, whose private expenditure was great; and lastly, the considerable foreign loans. He hoped that another plan, which he intended to propose, would tend very much to restore the circulation of specie.

In the first place, however, he meant to propose, that the restrictions should be continued but one year-that is, from the 5th of July next, to the 5th of July 1819. There could be no doubt that the most perfect and convenient currency for any country was that of a mixed nature, consisting of specie and paper. It was highly expedient, however, to provide some security for the people of England and Ireland. By an act now in force, it was declared that notes under the value of L.5 should not be valid at the expiration of two years after the Bank restriction should be removed; consequently, no notes under that sum should be issued after the 5th of July 1820. His object was, that after the 5th day of July 1820, no private banker in England and Ireland should issue notes under the value of L.5 without a sufficient deposit of government securities, consisting either of stock or of Exchequer bills. He proposed, therefore, that it should be enacted, that every private banker should transfer into the names of the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt, an amount of exchequer bills equal in value to the amount of the notes to be issued, or a quantity of stock double the amount of the nominal value. After a deposit of stock and Exchequer bills, if a private banker issues notes, they shall be stamped in a way to denote that sufficient security has been deposited, and that they are given on the faith of that security. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded with moving for leave to bring in two bills according with his plan.

Mr TIERNEY gave his opinions at some length; he contended such a measure required thorough investigation, and that a committee should be appointed for the purpose. The great object of the Right Hon. Gentleman was to keep up a great paper circulation, in order by these means to force up the funds, and lower the rate of interest.

Mr GRENFELL believed the measure tended to the subversion of all property.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in reply to a remark of Mr Tierney, that the idea of stock debentures was never contemplated by him.-Leave was then given to bring in the bills.

Friday. Lord ARCHIBALD HAMILTON rose, and complained of a breach of privilege by a person named Ferguson, (an under-factor to Lord Douglas,) who, in canvassing for Sir Alexander Cochrane to be member for Lanarkshire, had made a promise of the interest of his master with government to a person named Dyke. The Noble Lord concluded by moving, that Thomas Ferguson be ordered to attend on the 21st inst.

After some debate, the question was, on the motion of Mr B. Bathurst, referred to the committee of privileges.

The Lord Advocate obtained leave to

bring in a bill to regulate the funds of the Royal Scotch Burghs. The bill was immediately brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on this day three weeks.

Monday, April 13.-Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a message from the Crown, similar to the one brought down to the Lords, which he moved be considered

to-morrow.

Mr TIERNEY expressed a hope that the Noble Lord would state particulars. He understood that a select committee had met at one of the minister's (Earl Liverpool) houses, and there it was agreed on what should be submitted to this House for its approbation. This was a course of proceeding, to say the least of it, not the most constitutional, and he hoped, that these sorts of rehearsals would not be tolerated, by the House. As he understood there were fifty or sixty gentlemen present, he hoped the Noble Lord would not object to state what had passed at the meeting.

Lord CASTLEREAGH was not aware of any thing unconstitutional or unusual in occasional meetings of this nature, nor could he see any parliamentary usage to prevent them.

Mr M. A. TAYLOR condemned the practice of calling together so many members of Parliament, to decide out of doors, as to any measure to be submitted for consideration in Parliament. With respect to granting any additional sums to the royal family, much as he was attached to that august family, he could not consent to vote one shilling while the people were so highly burthened.

Mr BROUGHAM observed, the address did not say one word relative to that which was the paramount duty of the House, he meant, the due regard they were bound to manifest for the burdens of the people. To supply the omission, he would move that the following words be added to the address just proposed-" And with a due regard to the burdened state of the people of this country."

Lord CASTLEREAGH opposed this amendment, which was supported by Sir G. Heathcote and Mr Tierney; Mr Lee Keck, Lord Lascelles, Mr Littleton of Stafford, Sir T. Acland, Mr Gooch, and Sir W. Curtis, expressed their opposition to the grants proposed by ministers, although generally approving of their mea

sures.

The House divided for the amendment, 93;-against it, 144; majority, 51. The address was therefore carried.

Mr P. METHUEN moved for accounts

of the total incomes of the Dukes of Clarence, Kent, Cumberland, and Cambridge, whether arising from military or naval commissions, pensions, grants, droits of admiralty, or any other funds or appoint

ments. This, after some remarks, was agreed to.

Tuesday. Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that it was his intention to move the order of the day for a committee to consider the Prince Regent's message, with a view of postponing the consideration till to-morrow. The order of the day was then read, and a warm debate ensued, in the course of which Mr TIERNEY observed, that if this scheme were sanctioned, the expence of it for this year would amount in the whole to L.116,000. The consideration of the message was, in conclusion, postponed.

Wednesday.-Lord CASTLEREAGH haying moved the order of the day for going into a committee for the consideration of the royal message, said it was a painful duty for the servants of the Crown to call on the House to make new arrangements to supply civil list deficiencies, but still it was a necessary duty, all the independent sources of revenue which the Crown possessed having been surrendered to the management of the House. If the applications to the House had in modern times been of frequent recurrence, they were not to be attributed to any improvidence of the reigning family since their accession to the throne, but to the measure which was agreeable to Parliament to take the sources of the ancient Crown revenue into their own hands. It was intended to have proposed to augment the income of the Duke of Clarence, which was L.20,500 per an num, by L.19,500, making a total of L.40,000, and to have given an additional sum of L.12,000 to each of the junior branches of the royal family, who entered the marriage state, with the further sum of L. 12,000 to each as an outfit. There was an outfit to the Princess Charlotte, in 1815, of L. 50,000. The practice of giving the outfits was the best mode of preventing the Princes from the inconvenience of getting into debt. It appeared to his Majesty's ministers, that these allowances would not have required the imposition of any new burdens upon the country, as they would be covered by L.10,000 of the balance that remained of the L.60,000 allowed for the expenditure of the late Princess Charlotte on her marriage, and the annual sum of L.50,000 allowed to the Prince Regent for paying off his debts. This fund would be relieved in the course of two years. But under all the weight of prejudice that had arisen on this subject, and which was attempted to be instilled into the public mind, his Majesty's ministers would propose an increase of only L. 10,000 per annum to the Duke of Clarence; and of L.6000 each to the Dukes of Kent, Cumberland, and Cambridge. The Noble Lord concluded by moving resolutions for a grant of L.10,000.

Upon the first resolution being put, Mr BARCLAY rose to oppose it. This was not a time to propose any new expenditure, when it was stated that in a year of peace a loan of eleven millions must be raised for the public service. Let the committee consider the burdened state of the country; let them consider that the distress was last year so great as to induce his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to sacrifice L.50,000 of his income for its relief; and then say if this was a period to impose new burdens. He moved as an amendment, that the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

Mr BENNET followed, and opposed the resolution.

Mr PROTHEROE congratulated the House on the effect of the virtuous opposition which had been made to this measure, in reducing the original sum proposed to be called for. In loyalty he would yield to no man; but he held it to be not only consistent with loyalty, but essential to its stability, to speak the language of truth. Did ministers speak the language of truth to their royal master when this was first thought of? Did they tell him that this was not the time to increase the burdens of the people? If ever there was a vote of that House in perfect unison with public feeling, it was the vote which had rejected the application for an additional allowance to the Duke of Cumberland.

Mr Canning, Mr Gurney, Mr Holme Sumner, Sir W. Curtis, Lord Compton, Mr Thornton, &c. spoke in favour of the grant, which was opposed by Mr Coke, Mr Ellison, Sir T. Acland, Lord John Russell, Lord Lascelles, Mr Tierney, &c. &c.

Mr HOLME SUMNER proposed an amendment of L.6000 to the Duke of Clarence in place of L.10,000.

Mr TIERNEY requested Mr Barclay to withdraw his amendment, in which proposal the honourable member acquiesced.

The cries of question became vehement, and the House divided-For Mr Holme Sumner's amendment of L.6000 a-year, there were 193-Against it 184-Majority against ministers 9.

The result was received with loud shouts of applause; amidst which, we understand, that Lord CASTLEREAGH rose, and observed, that since the House had thought proper to refuse the larger sum to the Duke of Clarence, he believed he might say, that the negociation for the marriage might be considered at an end.

Thursday. The House went into a committee on the royal marriages, which produced a debate somewhat acrimonious, particularly between Lord Castlereagh and Mr Brougham. In the conclusion of the debate, the resolution for granting an addition of L.6000 a-year to the Duke of

Cambridge upon his marriage, was carried on a division of 177 to 95. The same resolution was then moved in favour of the Duke of Cumberland, which met with greater opposition, and was negatived by a majority of seven, there being for the motion 136-against it 143.

This decision was received by the loud acclamations of the majority.

Two resolutions for granting L.6000 ayear respectively to the Princess of Hesse, in case of her surviving the Duke of Cambridge, and to the Duchess of Cumberland, in the event of her surviving the Duke, were agreed to unanimously.

Friday. Some very interesting conversation took place on the motion of Sir R. PEEL for going into a committee on the cotton factories bill. In conclusion it was agreed that the report should be immediately received, and that the bill should be re-committed on Tuesday next.

Monday, April 20.-The House went into a committee of ways and means; and the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER entered into a full detail of the state of the finances, the result of which was, that the service of the year requited L 21,612,086, and the total ways and means were estimated at only L. 7.271-188, leaving the sum of L. 14,000,000 to be provided by extraordinary means. The statement was as follows: Army L. 8,970,000, Navy L.6,456,800, ordnance L. 1,245,600, miscellaneous L. 1,720,000, interest of Exchequer bills L. 2,000,000, interest of ditto for sinking fund L. 560,000, for the Spanish treaty L. 400,000, deficiency in 1817 L. 258,686, for repayment of Exchequer bills L. 15,932,002; total supply L.37,544,148. The ways and meaus to meet this would be as follow:-Assessed taxes L.3,000,000, Excise L. 3,500,000, Lottery L. 250,000, old naval stores L. 250,000, arrears of property-tax L. 250,000, in the Exchequer L. 21,448, subscription loan L. 3,090,000, by funding Exchequer bills L. 27,272,700; total ways and means L 37,544,148.-The Right Honourable Gentleman said it was necessary for him to state, how the additional charge was to be provided for. He was not about to propose any plan on the subject; but he would, on a future day, submit to the consideration of the House, how far a part of the sinking fund could be appropriated for that purpose. He did not intend to propose any new taxes. The Right Honourable Gentleman, looking at the general improved state of the country, could not but anticipate a considerable revenue to the consolidated fund, from which considerable aid might be anticipated the next year. The Right Honourable Gentleman concluded, by moving a resolution, setting forth the terms of the loan, as stated in his notice to the Stock Exchange.

the first year of the series, the commitments amounted to 17, in the last to 89!; in another, they advanced from 206 to 748; and in another from 661 to 1946! 16.-Ireland.-Important Decision.-In the case "The King, at the prosecution of John Cole v. the Corporation of Dublin," which came on the 13th instant in the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, the Court gave judgment, and directed that a mandamus should issue requiring the Corporation to admit and swear in the prosecutor as a member, although a Roman Catholic.

The Navy The official list of the navy, recently published, enumerates Admirals 216 including 12 in commis. Captains 875 Commanders 788

61 ditto

50 ditto 349 ditto 119 ditto 96 ditto

123 ditto 116 ditto

Surgeons 933 Ast. Surgeons, 398 Pursers 897 Respite.-A letter was this morning received by the Magistrates of Edinburgh, intimating, that the Prince Regent had respited the sentence of death lately passed on the two boys, Main and Aitchison, (see p. 380 last Number,) till the further signification of the pleasure of his Royal Highness.

Edinburgh High School. At a meeting of the Town Council of Edinburgh yesterday, the Lord Provost laid before them a letter from Mr William Ritchie, one of the masters of the High School, containing a resignation, from the 1st October next, of the situation which he has held for 22 years in that celebrated seminary, as he felt the duties of it, at his advanced period of life, after 46 years spent in the instruction of youth, becoming too heavy for him. The Town Council having accepted the resignation of this respectable teacher, proceeded to appoint a successor, and, upon the motion of the Lord Provost, unanimously elected to the office of one of the masters of the High School, from and after the 1st of October next, Mr Samuel Lindsay, A. M. classical teacher in George Heriot's Hospital. Mr Lindsay will accordingly open the Rudiment class in October next.

On Monday the 13th, a scene of wretchedness passed along our streets (Glasgow), seldom witnessed in Scotland. We refer to the funeral of a poor person, from the Bridgegate to some church-yard up High Street, attended by only four persons; a poor labouring man, two little boys almost naked, and for whom the load seemed too much, and a poor woman, supporting on one side the bier, apparently a near relation of the deceased. Of late, scenes of this description, although not quite so wretched, have become frequent. Glasgow Chronicle. Friendly Societies.-At a Justice of the Peace Court, held at Annan, on Tuesday last, the following case relative to Friendly

VOL. II.

Societies was discussed:-The Brotherly Society of Annan having found at Candlemas last, that their funds were very much decreased since the last yearly meeting in August, the office-bearers called a meeting of the members, for the purpose of adopting such measures as might tend to the future prosperity of the Society; when it was agreed to suspend the weekly allowance to sick members for two years. In consequence of which, David M'George, one of the members, at present in a poor state of health, was deprived of his weekly allowance, when he presented a petition to the Court, stating the injustice of the proceeding, at the same time craving the usual allowance of 3s. per week. The Justices found the petition relevant, and ordained the Society to pay the petitioner in full from the time of the stoppage, and to continue the same during his illness, together with costs.

20.-Appeal of Murder.-The Court of King's Bench on Friday decided, in the case of Ashford versus Thornton, that the defendant was entitled by law to prove his innocence of the murder of Mary Ashford* by battle with the appellant; and this morning the parties having appeared in court, the appellant, by his counsel, declined the fight, and Thornton was in consequence discharged.

National Monument for Scotland, in memory of Waterloo, &c.-The erection of a public monument for Scotland, to commemorate the victories by sea and land, and particularly that of Waterloo, was suggested at a meeting of the Highland Society last year; and this day the subject was taken into consideration by a committee of noblemen and gentleman, who met in Edinburgh, the Earl of Moray in the chair; when it was resolved," that a monumental church, of ornamental architecture, would be a most appropriate and useful testimonial of national gratitude; and would furnish an hallowed place of record for inscribing, on some durable material, the names of those Scottish heroes, who, by their signal gallantry, upheld the martial fame of their ancestors." This resolution having been unanimously approved, it was then resolved to refer the consideration of the most proper means of carrying it into effect, to a sub-committee of noblemen and gentlemen, who were named accordingly.

99

Calamitous fire at Liverpool.-One of the most extensive fires took place in Liverpool on Thursday the 16th, that has happened in that town since the destruction of the Goree buildings in 1802. About two o'clock in the afternoon of that day it was discovered that the large bonded warehouses in Suffolk Street, known by the name of Parr's Factory, had taken fire,

See p. 482, last volume. 3 B