JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. FR Days omitted, no Business of Importance. RIDAY, May 23.-The Earl of Liverpool moved that the house should adjourn to that day week, on which day a communication should be made, by message, from the Prince Regent, and a motion made for the re-appointment of a committee to inquire HOUSE OF FRIDAY, Mr. Be that he felt it into the state of the country, with a view to the expediency of continuing, to a specific period, the bills already passed in the present session, for the preservation of the public peace. COMMONS. questie, im it was the Prince quainting him that it was the Prince Regent's court of Portugal he should keep within his ordinary allowances, namely 5,2001, a year, and that he had directed Mr. Cassamajor to lose no time in removing the mission from the house of the Marquis de Pombal; and that he could not anticipate any public grounds for continuing the expenditure of his Majesty's servants at Lisbon, at the scale on which it had been conducted during the continuance of the war in the Peninsula.-2. That on the 26th of August 1814, under the pretence of congratulating the Prince of Brazil on bis return to Europe, the right honourable G. Canning was appointed Ambassador to Lisbon, with a salary of 82007, with 60001. allowances, 15001. outfit, and 31801. plate money, making 18,880.-3. That this appointment was inconsistent with the dispatch of Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Sydenham, was uncalled for by any political circumstances, and was an unwarranted abuse of the public money.-These resolutions gave rise to considerable discussion. On a division the resolutions were negatived by 270 to 96: majority against them 174.Adjourned at midnight. to be his duty, as chairman of the committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Police of the Metropolis, to bring under the consideration of the house a breach of privilege contained in a book recently published, and which had been sent to the committee by the author, purporting to be "A Vindication of the Magistrates acting in and for the Tower Division, from the charges contained in a printed work, entitled, The Report of the Committee on the State of the Police of the Metropolis; toge ther with the Minutes of Evidence taken before the committee of the House of Commons.' By Thomas Thirlwall, M.A. Rector of Bowers Gifford, Essex; and Magistrate for the Counties of Middlesex and Essex." Without making any comment on the general tone of the work, which was by no means respectful towards the committee, he would only observe, that several passages were so extremely offensive to the feelings and bostile to the privileges of the committee, that it was thought fit to summon Mr. Thirlwal! before them, to require some explanation of his conduct. The motion for the attendance of Mr. Thirlwall, on Wednesday, was then agreed to. And on WEDNESDAY, May 7.-The order of the the motion of the Chancellor of the Ex-day having been read for the attendance of chequer, it was ordered, that at its rising, the house should adjourn to Monday. MONDAY, May 5.—The second reading of the London tithe bill was strongly opposed by Dr. Phillimore and Sir Wm. Scott, who conceived that the decree upon the Act of Henry VIII, had made a final conclusion upon the subject of tithes for London. On a division the bill was thrown out by 146 to 21. The third reading of the game preservation bill was likewise negatived by 104 to 21: majority against it 83. LISBON MISSION. TUESDAY, May 6.- Mr. Lambton closed an introductory speech on this subject by submitting the following resolutions, which embrace the grounds of complaint against Mr. Canning. 1.“ That on the 18th of July, 1814, a dispatch was sent by Lord Viscount Castlereagh to Thomas Sydenham, Esq. bis Majesty's Envoy at the Court of Lisbon, ac Europ. Mag. Vol. LXXII. July 1817. the Rev. J. Thirlwall, he was called in and then addressed the house. He expressed a hope that the justice and liberality of the house would dispose it to believe that he felt the deepest regret and sorrow at having been betrayed into any transgression of its privileges. This unfortunate transgression appeared in a book, which he assured the house was written in great haste: and which he was impelled to write through a desire to vindicate his own character and that of the other magistrates, from the obloquy cast upon them by the witnesses adduced before the committee for inquiring into the conduct of the police. If, in bis zeal to accomplish the object he had in view, he bad been betrayed into any animadversions ipconsistent with the end which he had prescribed to himself, or exceeding the limits of his object, he could assure the house that he felt the most sincere regret, especially in violating the respect due to that honourable house, or to its honourable Committees. But he trusted to the clemency of the house, under all the circumstances of his case. He ventured to hope and petition that no proceding would be taken against him that could serve to degrade his character as a magistrate and a gentleman.After some further conversation, the Speaker stated to the Reverend gentleman, that he was commanded by the house to acquaint him, that having taken into consideration the complaint made against him, of having violated its privileges, with his defence, explanation, and apology, it had come to a resolution that he had been guilty of a high contempt of its authority, and a breach of its privileges, but that in consequence of the acknowledgment of his fault, and under all the circumstances of his case, the house was content to proceed no farther, THURSDAY, May 8.-Mr. Bennett made his promised motion on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Herries, late commissary in chief, and concluded by moving the following resolution :-" That the allowance to the late commissary-general in chief, of one half of his salary, on his retirement, was an excessive remuneration, regard being had to the length of his services; and that the grant of a permament office of 1,500l. a year, in addition to the same, was an improvident expenditure of the publie money, and formed a prece dent idjurious to the public interests."After a short discussion, in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Castlereagh, Messrs. Tierney, Ponsonby, and Grant, participated, the motion was negatived by 93 to 42. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. FRIDAY, May 9.-Mr. Grattan after an able and eloquent introductory speech, moved that the house would resolve itself into a committee to take into consideration the state of the laws affecting the roman catholic subjects of the Empire, &c. &c. -The principal speakers were, Sir J. C. Hippesley, Mr. Webber, Mr. W. Elliot, Lord Castlereagh, &c. &c. At three o'clock in the morning the house divided-For the committee 221-Against it 245-Majority against the catholic claims 24. BIRMINGHAM POOR'S BILL. MONDAY, May 12.-Sir C. Mordaunt moved the second reading of the Birmingham Poors Rate's Bill. On a division, the bill was thrown out by a majority of 67; the numbers for the second reading being 36; against it 103. ARMY ESTIMATES. The house having resolved itself into a committee, Lord Palmerston stated that the real charge for the army proposed to be maintained was not more than 8,794,000l.; and then moved the first resolution" that the land forces for the service of Great Britain and Ireland, &c. do not exceed 182,962 men, including the troops stationed in France. After a short discussion, the resolution was agreed to. FURTHER SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS. THURSDAY, May 15.-Mr. Ponsonby: the law which passed in the present Session, enabling his Majesty to detain in custody persons suspected of designs against his person or government, expires on the 1st of July next; we are now in the middle of May, a period of the session, after which, from our general experience, we may expect that many members will leave town. I therefore wish to ask the noble lord, whether it is the intention of his majesty's ministers to propose a renewal of that law, and a further extension of the power given them by it?-Lord Castlereagh. In reply to the right hon. gentleman, he should state, that his Majesty's ministers felt it their duty to advise the Prince Regent on the first day after the holidays (about the 1st or 2d of next month), to make a communication to parliament on the internal state of the country, with respect to which he should propose that the same course should be taken as on the communication in the earlier part of the session.-The call of the house was then fixed for the 2d of June.-Adjourned, MONDAY, May 19.—A short conversation on the further suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act took place, but nothing new transpired The Lottery Bill was read a third time and passed, but not without a most strenaous opposition, and a division, there being for the third reading 73—Against it 48. The second reading of the bill for abolishing the office of Chief Justice in Eyre, condemned as useless by the Finance Committee, excited some discussion. The debate afterwards took an interesting turn, when the bill for providing compensation for the bolders of sinecures came under discussion. Mr. Brougham made a very eloquent and in many respects a very fair attack upon the Pension List; which, he said, this bill would greatly increase-A division took place, for the passing of the bill 105-Against it 45. TUESDAY, May 20.-Sir F. Burdett brought forward his promised motion on Parliamentary Reform. The hon. Baronet's speech was a kind of historical review of the rise and progress of Parliaments, intended perhaps to shew that the country was bappier and more prosperous under annual than triennial Parliaments. The arguments have been so frequently before our readers, that we conceive it unnecessary to repeat them. He concluded by moving for a select committee to inquire into the present state of the representation of the people. A debate ensued of considerable length, but nothing new transpired; neither the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or Lord Castlereagh spoke upon the subject. The house divided-Ayes 77-Noes 265-Majo many cases, over other creditors. He then rity against the motion 188. The house then went into a committee, on the bill for the better employment of the poor. BANKRUPT LAWS. THURSDAY, May 22.-Mr. J. Sinith prejented a petition from nearly the whole of the trading community in the city of London: the Bank of England, Bankers, East and West India Merchants, &c, on the subject of the Bankrupt Laws. They com plain of those Laws; but principally of the place where the meetings are held, the place being so much crowded, that it is impossible the commissioners can go through their business. The hon. gentleman said, it was his intention to move for a committee, to take the subject into consideration. Mr. Vansittart apprehended, that no objection would be made to the motion he had to propose, for leave to bring in a bill to regalate the proceedings under Extents in Aid. The present system had given rise to much discontent, and therefore it was his wish to abolish the abuses which had crept in, by giving the crown a preference, in moved for leave to bring in a bill to regu late the proceedings under Extents in Aid. -The Attorney General said, the object of this bill was to prevent debtors to the crown from being sued for more than the absolute debt they owed to the crown. By any law he knew on the subject, the Court of Exchequer had no power to have con fined the effects of Extents in Aid to the sum actually due to the crown. FRIDAY May 23.-On the order for the third reading of the Christ-church Burial Ground Bill,- -Sir C. Monck said, this measure was disliked by a majority of the parish, and was now pushed forward by a private vestry, who had a private meeting for the purpose of bringing it forward in a concealed manner through Parliament, the house then divided-For the third reading 102-Against it 9.-Adjourned to Friday the 30th. [From the press of other matter, we are unavoidably obliged to defer the conclusion of the Parliamentary Journal till our next.] PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ROM an official return, it appears from the fund of the Greenwich Hospital, from the 5th of January, 1815, to the 5th of January, 1816, amounted to 242,2391, 3s. Id. and that paid in the subsequent year amounted to 274,5091. 8s. 11d. In a note to this return it is remarked, "the above are the sums actually paid, but the charge for the last year amounts to 350,000l. there being out-standing bills to the amount of 70,0001, on the 31st of December, 1816," An official return to an Order of the House of Commons, states the number of persons committed to the King's Bench Prison, from the first day of January, 1816, to the first day of January, 1817, amounts to 1,523. The number discharged within the same period, 1,383. The greater number of persons that have been confined at one time during the same period, 780. That there were committed to the Fleet Prison, between the first day of January, 1816, and the first day of January, 1817, 676 prisoners, of which number four died in custody, 122 were removed to the King's Bench by Habeas Corpus, and 516 were discharged between the same periods. That there were committed in the same period to the Marshalsea and Palace Courts 1,200 debtors and Admiralty prisoners, of whom 447 were discharged. tria, on loans, with the dividends advanced Great 1817, and the interest on such dividends, amount to 19,362,8731. 5s. It appears from a parliamentary paper, that the sums paid into the chamber of the city of London, within the last five years, as fines from persons who have declined serving the office of sheriff, amounted to 20,4134.6s.8d. The fine upon each individual is 4131, 6s. 8d. In the above statement the Cape of Good Hope regiment, the Ceylonese regiments, and black pioneers, are not included, as they are paid by the colonies in which they are serving. These troops consist of 201 officers, 239 serjeants, 86 drummers, and The sums due to Great Britain from Aus- 3,854 rank and šle. It appears from two parliamentary papers that the arrears of rent due from the tenants of Greenwich Hospital, on the 21st of November, 1815, amounted to 6,905l. 5s. 10d. that the produce of the lead and silver (the property of the hospital) sold, but unpaid for, at the same period, amounted to 249/. 2s. 03d, and that the estimated value of lead and silver and lead ore in hand on the above date, was 7,8414. 3s. 6d. The net revenue derived from rum, imported from the West Indies, during the year 1814, was 2,000,9491. 14s, 74d. during the year 1815, was 1,631,329/. 14s. 6d. and during the year 1816, 1,308,458, 12s. 5d. A return made to an order of the House of Commons, with regard to the progress made in building the new Post-Office, states, that the sum of 95 000!, has been advanced to the city of London, for the purpose of providing a site for it. Purchases have been already made, to the amount of 78,2121, 14s. 3d. and purchases have been agreed for to the amount of 53,7741, 11s. The following is the General Abstract, deduced from the several accounts found ap¬ nexed to the Fourth Report from the Select Committee on Finance; Customs Excise Stamps Assessed and other Taxes Post Office £. £. £. £. £. 9,109,723 8,743,841 8,859 830 9,390,434 7,742,415 20,267,458 21,061,293 21,873 265 22,491,964 20,501.021 5,075.670 5.340,712 | 5,598.57+ 5,499,252 5,464,976 6,618,232 6,714.658 6,817 104 6,568,119 6.401,717 1,222,000 1,203,000 1,262,000 1,325,810 | 1,189.830 Being more than the average of the three former years.... 1,757,561 Produce of the year 1816. Less than the average of the three preceding years............. Great Britain... Ireland........ Average of the years 1815 and 1816. Corresponding nearly with the average of the three years preceding. ...... 2,951,440 4,659,001 ....43.289.28946,328,946 INELLIGENCE FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. SATURDAY, MAY 31. HIS Gazette notifies that the Prince TH Regent has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto the Right Hon. Charles Abbot, of Kidbrook, Sussex, Jate Speaker of the House of Commons, and the heirs male of his body, lawfully begotten, by the name, style, and title of Baron Colchester, of Colchester, in the county of Essex. Also, that upon the decease of John, late Marquis of Bute, the title and dignity of Marquis of Bute descended to his grandson, Johu, Earl of Dumfries, in Scotland, as the eldest son and her of John Stuart, Esq. commonly called Lord Mount Stuart, deceased, eldest son and heir apparent of the said John, late Marquis of Bute. The Prince Regent has been pleased to declare and ordain that Patrick James Herbert Crichton Stuart, Esq. only brother of the said John, Bow Marquis of Bute and Earl of Dumfries, shall, from henceforth, have and enjoy the same title, place, pre-eminence, and precedence in all assemblies or meetings whatsoever, as if his said late father had lived to have inherited and enjoyed the said title and dignity of Marquis of Bute. Also, that the Prince Regent has conferred the honour of knighthood on Ralph Rice, Esq. Recorder of Prince of Wales's Island; and on Richard Bassett, Esq. Mayor of Newport, Isle of Wight. TUESDAY, JULY 1. [This Gazette notifies that the Prince Re gent has granted unto Rear-Admiral Sir Phillip Charles Durham, Knight, Commander of the Most Hon. Military Order of the Bath, license and permission that he may accept and wear the cross of a Commander of the Order of Military Merit of France, which his Most Christian Majesty has been pleased to confer upon him; also unto Richard Roberts, Esq. Lieut. Col. in the army, and Captain in the 62d (or Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot, license and permission to accept and wear the cross of the Royal Sardinian Order of St. Maurice and Lazare, which his Majesty the King of Sardinia bas been pleased to confer upon him. |