MONDAY, APRIL 22.

Sir John Newport brought forward his motion on the state of Ireland. That country contained 19 millions of English acres, and 7 millions of inhabitants, who were ruled on the principle of "divide and govern." He lamented the number of absentees, and thought it the duty of the House to check this tendency, arising from the Legislature of Ireland being transferred to England, and which had not been discouraged by any mode of taxation; for since 1808, the taxes of Ireland had been all on capital; a large national debt had been saddled on that country, until a virtual bankruptcy had taken place by the consolidation of the Irish Exchequer with that of England in 1817. He had predicted, that Ireland never would pay off any of the debts borrowed for her by England, until the bounty of Providence should overcome the malignity of man. He concluded, by moving an Address to the Crown, praying for a revision of the present system of taxes, tythes, and the administration of the taxes.-Mr. Goul. burn said, that Addresses to the Crown, similar to that proposed, were not usual, and he should, therefore, move the previous question. The present Administration of Ireland had not been established three months, and it had not, therefore, been able to remove the evils of centuries.-He did not trace the sufferings of the Irish exclusively to tythes, and the disaffected in Ireland were divided, as to whether their distresses arose from tythes, taxes, or rents. It was the first duty of Government to put down the disturbances. In 13 counties, the extraordinary police was in operation; and in 5 counties the Insurrection Act was in full force.-Mr. S. Rice thought, that coercion ought to be accompanied by conciliation. All persons reprobated the present system of tythes, particularly as they exclusively fell upon the poor.-Mr. C. Grant highly disapproved of putting Ireland under a sys

tem of gendarmerie, and called upon the gentry of that country to perform their duty, in requital of the splendid rents they derived from their estates. He eulogised the recent conduct of the Catholic Clergy.-Mr. Ellis attributed the present disturbances in Ireland exstated, that from 36 to 54,000 men were clusively to the Catholic Clergy, and requisite, to keep the country in subjec tion. Mr. Plunkett forcibly replied to the last speaker; and the motion was negatived without a division.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24.

Mr. Huskisson and Mr. Monck reprobated the present system of licensing public-houses.-Sir F. Burdett moved an Address to the King, praying a remission of the remaining part of Mr. Hunt's punishment. He stated, that the confinement to which Mr. Hunt had been subjected, was more than an adequate punishment for the crimes with which he had been charged, and much more than adequate for the offence of which he had been found guilty. He detailed numerous inhumanities practised upon Mr. Hunt, and which had rendered that person's punishment greater than was intended by the sentence of the Court of King's Bench.-Mr. Dawson acknowledged the government of Ilcheter Jail to be indefensible, and gave Mr. Hunt great praise for bringing its atrocity to light. He argued, that the sentence of the Court of King's Bench ought to be enforced to its utmost.Mr. Peel thought the motion would interfere with the prerogative of theCrown. -Sir John Mackintosh supported the motion, which was lost by a division of 84 to 223.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25.

Numerous petitions were presented, relative to Agricultural Distress. -Lord John Russell proposed a Resolution,"That the present state of the Representation required serious consideration." He stated, that the House was not, in fact, the Representatives of the nation; that the Government had not kept pace with the improved spirit of the age; that the number of Electors had greatly decreased; that 280 members were returned by a very small number of electors; that of the Cornish Representatives, only five were natives of that country. That the supporters of Government were almost all members of places, possessing but few electors.

His Lordship quoted the opinions of Lord Clarendon, Mr. Locke, Blackstone, Lord Chatham, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Fox, in favour of reform.-Lord Chatham had proposed 100 additional members; Mr. Pitt, 100 Knights of the Shire; he, (Lord Russell), proposed 60 additional members for the counties, and 40 for the larger towns. This motion was powerfully supported by Lord Folkstone and Mr. Denman, and opposed, in an eloquent speech, by Mr. Canning. For the motion, 164; against it, 269; majority, 105.

MONDAY, APRIL 29.

Sir W. Curtis presented a petition from certain barge-masters, praying, that no toll might be imposed for pulling down London Bridge, and building another bridge in its stead.-Alderman Wood stated, that no toll was necessary, the Bridge-property being already 150,0007. in hand, besides 30,000l. per annum.—Mr. M. A. Taylor said, that if London Bridge was pulled down, there would be a plentiful supply of fish for the West-end of the town.-Sir Edward O'Brien, adverting to the distresses of the Irish, stated, that nearly the whole of the lower classes of Munster and Connaught were living on warm meal and ale, or on meal and water-cresses. A million and a half of people were without food, without money, and with out resources.-Mr. Goulburn assured the House, that the Government was engaged in an enquiry into these distresses. In a Committee on the Agricultural Report, the Marquis of Londonderrry stated, that since the last quarter, the revenue each week had increased by 90,000l. He stated the plans of Government to be, to advance one million on the warehousing of British Corn; one million to the relief of Ireland, and one million for public works. The Bank would advance 4,000,000l. at an interest of 3 per cent.; the country banks were to be continued to 1833, and the Bank-charter was to be extended for 10 years, in consideration of their giving up their monopoly, and allowing country banks to be established beyond 65 miles from London, and with a larger number of partners than the six, now permitted by law. Govern ment intended paying off 150,000,0001. of the National Debt, (by the reduction of the 5 per cents), and had a plan of farming the half-pay of 5,000,0007. on Eur. Mag. Vol. 81. May, 1822.

the principles of an annuity to the Contractors, which would save the country 2,200,000l. By these plans, 1,800,000i. of taxes might be taken off, which, with the previous abolition of the Horse and Malt Tax, would make a reduction of 3,700,000l. He did not expect the Ports would be open for Corn for this, the next, or even the succeeding year. He suggested a duty on imported Corn of 178. although Mr. Vansittart preferred 15s. At present, the importer was liable to an expense of 12s. on importing, and 15s. for the duty. These plans were supported by Mr. Huskisson, and opposed in many particulars by Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Western, and Mr. Brougham.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30.

Numerous petitions were presented in favour of Reform.-Lord Londonderry stated, that a Bill was preparing to authorize an intercourse with the new Republics of America.-A petition was presented from the University of Oxford, against any concessions to the Catholics, when Mr. Canning brought forward a motion for enabling Catholic Peers to sit in the House of Lords. He stated, that his sole object was to revert to the practice, prior to (1678) the Act of 30th of Charles II. which Act, depriving the Catholic Peers of their birthright, had been passed, on the temporary danger of Charles II. and his brother the Heir-expectant being a Catholic, and upon the Catholic plots of that reign. He stated the strong and numerous inconsistencies of the laws on this subject as they now stood, particularly in their admitting the Duke of Norfolk and others to their duties at the Coronation, and excluding them from the Legislature.-Mr. Peel opposed the motion, and descanted on the infamous schemes which Charles II. had been led into by his Catholic attachments. He argued upon the inconsistency of admitting Catholic Peers to the Legislature, whilst they continued to exclude the Commoners; and maintained, that the Act of the 30th of Charles II. was passed with a view of fixing permanently the Protestant character of the Constitution. The motion was supported by Lord F. Gower and Lord Nugent, and by Mr. Plunkett; and was opposed by Mr. Wetherell. Ayes, 249; Noes, 244. Majority in favour of the

motion, 5.

30

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward his plan for farming out the Half-pay, amounting to 5,000,0007. annually. The principle was, that the Contractors should engage to discharge the Half-pay List of 5,000,000l., benefitting by the deaths and gradual decrease of the Officers, and receiving from Government an annual 2,800,0007. for 45 years; and out of the 2,200,0001. per annum whichGovernment would thus save, a portion was to be set a-part for a fund, to answer what the country would lose after the 16th year, when it was computed, that the Half-pay List would be so reduced by deaths, that the 2,800,000l. to be paid to the Contractors would greatly exceed the sums claimed of them by the remaining Half-pay Officers. Motion granted.

THURSDAY, MAY 2.

Mr. Denman presented a petition from á Mr. Taylor, stating, that owing to the alteration of the currency, an estate which cost him 150,0007. in 1811, was now refused at an offer of 75,000l. Mr. Western and Mr. Brougham contended, that the individual was entitled to remuneration, particularly as on the 13th of May, 1811, the House had, by a vote, declared the Bank-note worth 20s., when its market price was little better than 14s. and the same House, only two months after, had passed an act to imprison persons buying notes at less than their nominal value.-Sir T. Lethbridge, presenting an Agricultural Petition, stated, that he wished for a duty on the importation of corn as high as 40s. on Wheat, and proportionably high on other grains. -Lord Normanby moved an Address to the Crown, praying to abolish one of the offices of Post-Master-General. He defended his motion, on the grounds, that the place had been maintained on the principle of keeping up useless offices, in order to preserve the influence of the Crown. Mr. Banks stated, that in 1813, a motion for abolishing this office had been supported by himself, Mr. Canning, Mr. Huskisson, and Mr.Vansittart. -Lord Londonderry and Mr. S. Wortley opposed the motion. On a division, the Ayes were, 216; Noes, 201; majority against Ministers, 15.

MONDAY, MAY 13.

Colonel Davis moved, that the Taxes on Salt, Leather, Candles, and Windows, be reduced by 3,600,0001. For the motion, 22; against it, 153; majority, 131. TUESDAY, MAY 14.

Mr. Hume moved an inquiry into the misgovernment of the Ionian Islands, and stated various instances of the extravagance of our Government, of our bad faith, and breach of treaties with the Ionians, and of our oppression towards that people.-Mr.Wilmot replied to Mr. Hume; and, on a division, the

numbers were,for the motion, 62; against the motion, 152; majority, 85.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15.

Mr. Abercrombie adverted to the present system of Tythes in Ireland, and was followed by numerous members, who bore testimony to the extreme sufferings of the people, in consequence of the Tythe system.-Mr. Lennard moved a Committee to inquire into the Civil List. He instanced the immense augmentation of salaries and pensions to Ambassadors, and shewed, that since 1792, this branch of the Civil List had been increased by 150,000l. per annum. -The motion was supported by Mr. Creevy, Mr. Tierney, and Sir James Mackintosh, and opposed by the Marquis of Londonderry and Mr. Robinson. For the motion, 147; against it, 274; majority, 127.

THURSDAY, MAY 16.

Mr. Warre moved several resolutions, relative to appointing Mr. Wynne Ambassador to Switzerland, at an expense of 5,9001. per annum, when, with one exception, our embassies to that country had never cost us above 1,750l. per annum, and had been as low as 3601. and 2501. per annum.-Lord Londonderry opposed the motion. Ayes, 141; Noes, 247; majority in favour of Minis

ters, 106.

MONDAY, MAY 20.

The House went into a Committee on the Marriage Act. Dr. Phillimore moved that the consent of the natural mother should, in some cases, be valid; and that all marriages contracted by parties of age should be lawful. Mr. Wallace moved a Committee to take off the restrictions inflicted on commerce by the Navigation, Laws.

TUESDAY, MAY 21.

Mr. Hume entered upon the Irish Civil List, and proposed reductions of 150,000l. annually; and complained of various high pensions on that list-he was replied to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and no division took place.

THURSDAY, MAY 23.

Mr. Allen complained of the corruption in the Welsh System of Judicature on four grounds: first-in the Equity Courts, so few were the attornies, that the same attoney often drew the answer to his own bill: second-in the Common Law Courts, the Welsh Judge practised at the bar of the upper courts, and therefore in the Welsh court might

as Judge have to try the cause of one who was his client in the court above: third-that in the Criminal Courts of Wales, the Judge was often selected from the Equity Courts of England, and might never have witnessed a criminal cause: fourth-that the Welsh Judges sitting in Parliament, were more under the influence of the crown than the English Judges.-Motion postponed.

FRIDAY, MAY 24.

Mr. Bennet finding no support, wayed his clause in the Bill for Licencing Public Houses, which rendered it compulsory on the Magistrate to grant a Licence. He confined his Bill to two principles: first-to ensure good order in the public houses: second-to protect the property of the publican from the severity of the magistrate. The interest of the great brewers prevented the reform he wished. Mr. Vansittart announced that his Half-Pay Annuity Plan had failed; he could find no contractor for his first offer, he should, therefore substitute the following scheme relative to the Half-Pay. The Half-Pay amounted annually to 5,000,000l. Trustees to be appointed by ParliamentGovernment to pay them annually 2,800,000: they to discharge the HalfPay, raising the difference by selling annuities, or by borrowing on government securities: Government thus saving 2,200,0007. is to apply 400,000Z. for future increases to the Half-Pay List. The neat present saving, therefore, will be 1,800,000l.; and in consequence of this saving, the following taxes would be removed: thirteen shillings out of the fifteen levied on salt, wonld save 1,300,000l. In Ireland the salt tax is now only two shillings, and in Scotland the salt tax would be reduced from six shillings to two; and thus the three countries would be on a par as to this Tax; but nothing being deducted from the salt tax in Ireland, he should

remove the Irish Window Tax of 200,000l. and the Hearth Tax of 50,0004. The Leather Tax to be reduced by one half, or 300,000. The Tonnage Duty on Ships to be removed, amounting to 150,000. Thus the Taxes would be removed by 2,000,000l. per annum, whilst the saving by the Annuity Plan would be only 1,800,0007. the difference of 200,000l. would be made up by the increase of consumption naturally arising

from the fall of price, resulting from removing the taxes.-Messrs. Hume, Ricardo, Calcraft, and others, objected to the plan, because by only taking off a part of several taxes, instead of removing a few taxes entirely, Govern

ment retained the former extensive machinery of collection, with all its patronage; and moreover, the whole plan was a counter-action on the sinkingfund-the one burdening, and the other relieving posterity.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25.

A Court of Common Council was held at Guildhall, for electing a Common Serjeant in the room of Newman Knowlys, Esq. elected Recorder of London, on the demise of Sir J. Sylvester. Mr. Slade nominated Thos. Denman, Esq. as a fit and proper person to fill the office of Common Serjeant. Mr. Dixon put W. Bolland, Esq. in nomination for the same office, when on a ballot, the numbers were, for Mr. Denman, 131. For Mr. Bolland 119, majority for Mr. Denman 12. This decision was received with great acclamation, and Mr. Denman returned his thanks to the Court in an exceedingly impressive and eloquent speech. There are in all 26

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SHERIFFS.

Aldermen and 236 Commoners, and of these 24 Aldermen and 226 commoners voted on this occasion.

TUESDAY, MAY 7.

At the Court of Aldermen held this day, Mr. Alderman Lucas presented a petition, signed by Mr. S. Dixon and others, praying that Mr. Denman might not be sworn in as Common Serjeant, on the ground of a Bye Law passed in the reign of Philip and Mary, and which directs that the Common Serjeant should be chosen from the eight city counsel. It was decided that the Bye Law had never been acted upon, and the petition was laid on the table, and Mr. Denman was duly sworn into office.

The Secretary to the SOCIETY of GUARDIANS for the PROTECTION of TRADE, by Circulars has informed the Members thereof, that the persons undernamed, viz.

JOHN GWINN, 9, Coopers-row, Towerhill,

HUGH ROGERS, Coal-dealer, 8, Upper Cleveland-street, Fitzroy-square, WILLIAM ROBINSON, 13, Ridinghouse-lane, Portland-place,

WILLIAM KEYS, late of Youl's Cottage, Youl's Garden, Kent-road, afterwards of No. 10, Newton Terrace, Mountford-place, Kennington, and since of No. 2, Upper China-row, Chelsea,