House of Commons Journal Volume 85: 20 May 1830

Jovis, 20 die Maii; Anno 11 Georgii IV ti Regis, 1830.

PRAYERS.

Return of Commissioners of Paving St. Pancras, &c. presented.

THE House being informed that Mr. Hine, from the Battle Bridge Paving Commissioners, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to their Order,-A Return from the Commissioners for Paving, &c. the Battle Bridge District of Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, of an Account of the Monies received and expended by them for each of the years 1827, 1828 and 1829; particularly distinguishing the sums paid for paving, for lighting, and for watering; the amount of Salaries to Officers (describing the Officer and amount of Salary), and the Poundage to Collectors; the amount of rent of any house, offices, yard or premises; the amount paid for interest or annuities;- also, a Statement of the amount of Debt remaining chargeable upon the Rates of the District; and the amount of Rate or Assessment in the pound for each of the said years:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Return do lie upon the Table.

Dundee Harbour Bill, reported.

Mr. Hume reported from the Committee on the recommitted Bill for more effectually maintaining, improving and extending the Harbour of Dundee, in the County of Forfar; and to whom the Petition of the Lord Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of the city and royal burgh of Perth, was referred; That they had considered the said Petition, and had made several other Amendments thereunto; and the Amendments, were read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Garscube and Possil Road Bill, passed.

An ingrossed Bill for maintaining and repairing the Road leading from the City of Glasgow, through Cowcaddens, to the North end of the Bridge over that part of the River of Kelvin called the Milnford of Garscube, and for making, repairing and maintaining certain other Roads in the Counties of Lanark, Stirling and Dumbarton, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for maintaining and repairing the Road leading from the City of Glasgow, through Cowcaddens to the North end of the Bridge over that part of the River of Kelvin called the Milnford of Garscube, and for making, repairing and maintaining the Road leading from Blackquarry Toll Bar, by Possil, to the Bridge across the River Allander at Langbank, in the Counties of Lanark and Stirling.

Ordered, That Mr. John Campbell do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

Clyde Navigation Bill, reported.

Mr. Home Drummond reported from the Committee on the Bill to enable the Trustees for the improvement of the Navigation of the River Clyde to purchase up certain Exemptions from the Rates payable on the said River and the Harbour at Glasgow; and to whom the Petitions of Burgesses of the Burgh of Dumbarton; of Jacob Dixon, merchant in Dumbarton, and Jacob Dixon, junior, merchant there; of Ship-owners, Steam-boat Owners, Shipbuilders, and others connected with the shipping interest of the River Leven and port and harbour of Dumbarton, and resident Burgesses in the said burgh; of Magistrates and Town Councillors of the royal burgh of Dumbarton; of Magistrates and Counsellors of the town of Greenock; and, of Merchants and Inhabitants of the said town of Greenock, were referred; That they had heard counsel in support of the four first mentioned Petitions; and that no person appeared on behalf of the last mentioned Petition; and that they had heard counsel in favour of the Bill; and that they had examined the allegations of the Bill, and found the same to be true; and had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto; and the Report was brought up, and read.

Ordered, That the Report do lie upon the Table.

Petitions against Duties on Stamps, &c. (Ireland.)

A Petition of J. F. FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, High Sheriff, and Chairman of a Meeting of the Noblemen, Gentlemen and Freeholders of the county of Limerick;- of Citizens of Waterford;-of Merchants, Manufacturers, Traders, Householders and other Inhabitants of Saint Michan, in the city of Dublin;-and, of Inhabitants of the city and liberties of Limerick,-were presented, and read; praying the House not to suffer those measures for increasing the Duty upon home-made Spirits and the cultivation of Tobacco, or for assimilating the Stamp Duties of the United Kingdom, to pass into a law.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petition for admitting Foreign Grain on Bond to be ground for exportation.

A Petition of Inhabitants of Belfast, was presented, and read; praying, That the House will be pleased to permit Foreign Grain to be admitted into the country to be ground, on bond being given that an equivalent quantity of Flour shall be returned into bonded warehouses.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition for establishment of Poor Laws in Ireland.

A Petition of Charles Campbell, Curate, and Chairman of the vestry of the parish of Saintfield, in the county of Down, was presented, and read; praying, That the House will be pleased to enact a law whereby a majority of the inhabitants of that or any other parish who pay a certain rate of county cess, may be able to lay on, in vestry assembled, and levy an adequate provision for the poor.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petitions against Renewal of East India Charter.

A Petition of Magistrates, Town Council, Burgesses and Inhabitants in general of the royal burgh of Annan; -of the Seven Incorporated Trades of the royal burgh of Dumfries;-and, of the Provost, Bailies and remanent Members of the Town Council of the royal burgh of Dumfries, in Common Council assembled,-were presented, and read; praying the House to restore to all His Majesty's subjects those rights to a full and free participation in the commerce with the countries eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, of which they have been so long deprived, and especially to that with the empire of China.

And the said Petitions were ordered to be referred to the Select Committee on East India Company's Affairs.

Petition against Assessed Taxes on Curts with Metal Springs.

A Petition of Owners of carts with metal springs, agreeable to the Act 43 Geo. 3, in the county of Northampton, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have been compelled, by the decision of the Commissioners of the Assessed Taxes for the division of Kettering, in the county of Northampton, to pay a tax of 3l. 5s. per year on their respective carts, although such carts were made in exact conformity to the above recited Act, and although it is not alleged that the Petitioners have used their carts except for the purpose of their respective trades or callings, save the occasional ride of a wife or child with their goods; the Petitioners feel the more aggrieved in this decision, inasmuch as that in the city and vicinity of London, and the adjoining counties of Leicester, Lincoln and Bedford, &c. it is a well-known fact, that carts made and used in a similar manner to those of the Petitioners, are not charged with the aforesaid tax, and moreover in the adjoining division of Thrapston, in that county, the Commissioners have adjudged that such carts are not chargeable; and praying the House to revise and make explicit such Act, so that all His Majesty's subjects may be put on an equality in their assessments for such carts respectively, and thereby to do away with the present unequal and unjust burthen which the Petitioners have respectively to bear.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Report from Holyhead Road Committee. No. 432.

Sir Henry Parnell reported from the Select Committee, appointed to inquire into the amount of all sums of Money received, expended, and repaid by the Commissioners for the Improvement of the Holyhead and Liverpool Roads, distinguishing the Sums applied to the several Districts of these Roads; into the amount of each Contract, the amount paid and to whom paid; into all Salaries, Travelling Charges, and other Allowances paid under the direction of the Commissioners; and, into the additional Tolls levied for the repayment of Loans:-also, to inquire into the progress made in carrying into execution the recommendations of former Committees appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the means of improving the Communication between London and Dublin, and between the northern parts of England and Dublin; and to report their observations thereupon, and upon what further improvements may be made; together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them from time to time, to the House; That they had examined the matters to them referred; and had directed him to make a Report thereof to the House; and the Report was brought up, and read.

Ordered, That the Report do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition against Contribution to Greenwich Hospital.

A Petition of George William Butler (late Master Mariner), of Bush-lane, in the city of London;-and, of Trustees, in the name and on behalf of the Merchant Seamen of the port of Poole,-were presented, and read; complaining of the system of Impressment, and the exacting of 6d. per month from the hard-earned pittances of our merchant seamen, for the maintenance of Greenwich Hospital; and praying, That the House will be pleased to institute an immediate inquiry into the nature and effect of the laws, customs and usages affecting the seamen of these realms, with a view to effect such alterations therein, and amendments thereof, as will insure to our Mercantile Marine a suitable organization, to our Merchant Seamen a suitable provision when disabled or worn out, and to the Royal Navy an abundance of good seamen, without the necessity of having recourse to the horrible system of Impressment.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petitions complaining of Distress.

A Petition of the there-undersigned People of Yorkshire;-and, of Persons resident in the county of York; -were presented, and read; complaining of the present Distress which prevails in the agricultural and manufacturing districts; and praying the House to give their serious attention to the subject, with the view of alleviating the same.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petitions for abolition of Slavery.

A Petition of the Minister and Members of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Independent denomination at Pickering, and other Friends to the abolition of Slavery;-and, of the Minister and Members of the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Independent denomination at Swanland, in the county of Kingstonupon-Hull,-were presented, and read; praying for the abolition of Slavery in every part of His Majesty's dominions.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petition for holding Assizes at Wakefield.

A Petition of the Clergy, Gentry, Freeholders, Merchants, and others, Inhabitants of Denby, was presented, and read; praying, That the Assizes and General Gaol Delivery for the business of the west riding of the county of York may in future be held at Wakefield.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petition against Poor Removal (Irish and Scottish) Bill.

A Petition of the Vicar, Churchwardens, Vestrymen and Directors of the Poor of the parish of Saint Pancras, in the county of Middlesex, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill to alter and amend several Acts relating to the Removal of Vagrant and Poor Persons born in Scotland and Ireland, and chargeable to Parishes in England; and praying, That the same may not pass into a law.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petitions for repeal of Parish Vestries Act (Ireland.)

A Petition of Inhabitants of Bandon Bridge;-of Passage West;-of the united parishes of Clogheroe, Matheha and Burrings;-and, of the united parishes of Ballygarvin and Douglass, in the county of Cork,-were presented, and read; reciting the Act 7 Geo. 4, c. 72, for the regulation of Parish Vestries in Ireland; and praying, That the same may be repealed.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petition for regulating Tolls on Articles in Gort (Ireland.)

A Petition of Blake Foster, resident in the county of Galway, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner entreats the attention of the House in directing its best consideration and inquiry to the abuses that prevail in the local Taxation and the Toll-levy in the town of Gort, arising out of an arbitrary and capricious levy of Toll on every article coming into the town; and praying, first, That the Toll levied in Gort shall be regulated by a fixed standard within the reach of every man's comprehension, that Schedules shall be painted and affixed on high and conspicuous places, and, finally, that the Toll Revenue shall, if legally created (of which the Petitioner has strong doubts), be applied to the benefit of the town of Gort, its improvement, the paving, lighting and flagging thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition complaining of Disfranchisement Act (Ireland.)

A Petition of Blake Foster, resident in the county of Galway, was presented, and read; complaining of the effect of the Disfranchisement Act passed in 1829; and praying the House to repeal at least so much of the same as relates to mortgage titles becoming a bar to the registry of freeholds in a tenant, to whom it is a matter of indifference whether the rent arising out of the freehold be paid to the person seised in fee, or a mortgagee, provided the tenant has a bonâ fide freehold, under the head landlord.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Returns respecting Constabulary (Ireland). ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of Persons who have lost their lives in affrays with, or otherwise by, the Constabulary in Ireland, in each year since the formation of that body; specifying the place where each homicide occurred, and also the nature of the warrant, if any, which the Constabulary had to execute at the time of such homicide; and also stating what was in each case the verdict of the Coroner's Inquest, and in which of those cases bills of indictment were preferred, and the manner in which the same were disposed of.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of Persons severely wounded in affrays with or by the Constabulary in Ireland, in each year since the formation of that body; specifying the place where each such wounding occurred, and also the nature of the warrant, if any, which the Constabulary had to execute at the time of such wounding; and also stating in which of those cases bills of indictment were preferred, and the manner in which such bills were disposed of.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the names and number of Persons employed in the Constabulary force in Ireland, who have been killed or severely wounded in affrays with, or otherwise by, any of the people, in each year since the formation of that body; stating in which of those cases bills of indictment have been preferred, and the manner in which such bills were disposed of.

Usury Laws Bill, deferred.

Ordered, That the Order of the day, for taking into further consideration the Report from the Committee of the whole House, on the Bill to alter several Acts relating to Contracts for the Loan of Money at Interest, be now read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That the Report be taken into further consideration To-morrow.

Petition for mitigating Punishment of Forgery.

A Petition of Inhabitants of the town of Shaftesbury, was presented, and read; praying the House to substitute some other punishment instead of the awful one of death in all cases of Forgery, being fully convinced that property would thereby be rendered more secure, and the important ends of justice more certain and efficient.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition for reduction of Taxation.

A Petition of James Thick, of Cloudesley-square, in the parish of Saint Mary Islington, was presented, and read; praying, That the House will immediately cause a considerable reduction of Taxation, by taking off the whole of the House and Window Duties, and such other Taxes that bear most oppressively upon the industry of the people, and the trade and commerce of the country, and that a large reduction of the government expenditure be effected, by reducing the military, naval and ordnance establishments, the colonial expenditure, the civil list, and the allowance to the Bank of England, for managing the national debt, and also, an equitable reduction of the salaries of public officers.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

A Motion was made, and the Question was proposed, That the Petition be printed:-And the said Motion was, with leave of the House, withdrawn.

A Petition of Joseph Pinsent, of No. 23, Finch-lane, Cornhill, was also presented, and read; complaining of the distresses of the country; and praying, That he may be examined before a Select Committee of the House, when he will not only prove by facts or self-evident truths all he has stated in the Petition, but will also propound a system of Finance, founded on self-creating and selfsupporting principles, that will prevent Taxation from becoming a burthen, as it now is.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petition respecting Sheriffs Accounts.

A Petition of William Augustus Johnson, Esquire, Sheriff of the county of Lincoln, was presented, and read; setting forth, That as Sheriff of the county of Lincoln, the Petitioner is called upon to undergo certain examinations at the King's Remembrancer's Office, and in the Court of Exchequer, referring to monies required to be collected by the Sheriff for the use of the Crown; that these accounts go through the form of an examination twice in the year, namely, some time in the course of Easter and Michaelmas Terms; that the first apposal takes place in Easter Term, and that in the present Easter Term the Petitioner attended to pass the accounts in person, conceiving that there could be no objection to his so doing; that upon so attending, he was informed at the King's Remembrancer's Office, that he could not be apposed in person, for that it was not usual so to do; that the custom had been, to pass these accounts by the Under-Sheriff, and that the officers in the King's Remembrancer's Office declined to take the Petitioner's examination; stating the particulars of his case; and praying the House to adopt such measures as shall enable any Sheriff, if he think fit to do so, to pass his own accounts in person; and that in such case the necessity of the attendance of his Under-Sheriff may be dispensed with.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Select Committee on High Sheriff's Office.

Account to be printed. No. 433.

Ordered, That the Account of all sums of Money paid into the Office of the Commissioners of First Fruits, which was yesterday presented to the House, be printed.

Petitions for removal of Disabilities affecting the Jews.

A Petition of a Society of Protestant Unitarian Dissenters assembling for Public Worship in Bank-street Chapel, Bolton-le-Moors;-and, of Unitarian Protestant Dissenters at Chowbent,-were presented, and read; praying, That the Jews may enjoy all those privileges which are the inalienable right of the subjects of a just and free Government, and from which they themselves were lately excluded.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and that the last be printed.

Petition in favour of Sale of Beer Bill.

A Petition of Magistrates and principal Inhabitants of Thetford, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill to permit the general Sale of Beer by Retail in England; and praying, That the same may pass into a law, but that beer be not consumed in the house or premises where sold by retail.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition respecting Trade to Mexico.

A Petition of Merchants, Ship-owners and others interested in the trade of Mexico, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners beg respectfully to state to the House, that they are and have been deeply engaged in the trade carried on between this country and Mexico, in the export of British manufactures, and that several of them conduct the operations of numerous manufacturing houses, who export their goods to that country to a great extent; that since Mexico has become an independent state, the value of the exports from Great Britain, intended for the supply of that country, has been gradually increasing, and now forms a very important item in the trade of this Kingdom, and that its amount is not shown by the Custom-House returns, as a large portion of the goods destined for the Mexican market is, in the first instance, exported to the United States of America or to the ports of Chili and Peru; that the trade to Mexico in the course of last year met with great interruption from the invasion of that country by an expedition fitted out by the Spanish government, and despatched from the Havannah, which, although inadequate to maintain even a footing in the country, occasioned great expense, which chiefly fell on neutral commerce, whilst the expedition itself was compelled to capitulate as soon as the Mexican forces could be brought against it; that notwithstanding the utter hopelessness of such attempts, they are credibly informed that another expedition is now actually preparing in the port of Cadiz, to rendezvous as before at Havannah, whereby their interests, as well as the various mining and other dependencies, in which so many British subjects are deeply involved, will again be likely to suffer, and their security be very greatly endangered; that, as it must be obvious to every one that these attempts of the Spanish Government can have no other result than discomfiture, it having been clearly demonstrated by the late expedition, that that Government had not any partisans in Mexico, and that any force which Spain can send can make no permanent impression upon an united people now inured to war, possessing a country most difficult of access, and a population almost equal to that of Spain itself; that, as such attempts against Mexico must occasion vexatious interruption to their commerce, and loss to individuals peaceably trading to that country, they trust that the House will adopt such measures as that their interests may be protected, and that the Spanish Government may be thereby induced to desist, or be prevented from engaging in expeditions which can only terminate in disgrace and loss to itself, and in injury to all other parties connected with the independent state of Mexico.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Report respecting Standing Orders considered-Birmingham and London Junction Canal Bill.

Ordered, That the Order of the day, for taking into further consideration the Report which, upon the 5th day of April last, was made from the Committee on the Petition of several Owners and Occupiers of estates within the counties of Warwick, Stafford, Salop, Buckingham and Middlesex, and Merchants, Manufacturers, and other Inhabitants of towns and other places situate within the said counties, for leave to bring in a Bill for making a Canal from the Stratford-on-Avon Canal Navigation, within the Parish of Tamworth, in the County of Warwick, to the Oxford Canal Navigation, within the Liberty of Coombe, in the same County; and to whom the Petitions of Thomas Wyatt, a land-owner on the line of the proposed Birmingham and London Junction Canal; of John Williams and others; of R. Paterson and others, complaining of their names having been inserted in the Subscription List; and two Petitions of several Owners and Occupiers of land on the line of the London and Birmingham Junction Canal thereinafter mentioned, complaining of their names having been entered in the Lists of assents, dissents and neuters, as being neuter, they being opposed to the Bill; and, of several Trustees for executing an Act for repairing the Road from Dunchurch to Stonebridge, in the county of Warwick, complaining of non-compliance with the Standing Orders, were referred, be now read; and the same being read:-The House proceeded to take the Report into further consideration.

The House was moved, That the Petition of Thomas Eyre Lee, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Gentleman, which was yesterday presented to the House, might be read; and the same being read;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Mr. Eyre Lee be heard at the bar in his defence:- It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Mr. Eyre Lee was called in, and heard accordingly:- And then he withdrew.

Resolved, That Thomas Eyre Lee, the Solicitor to the London and Birmingham Junction Canal Petition, did deposit in the Private Bill Office of this House, a List of Subscribers to the said Undertaking, and did afterwards attest the truth and correctness of the said List before the Committee to whom the said Petition was referred.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That it appears, by the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee to whom several Petitions complaining of the said Subscription List, were referred, that the said Subscription List is a false and fictitious List, and that the same was culpably deposited, and the truth and correctness thereof attested by the said Thomas Eyre Lee;

An Amendment was proposed to be made to the Question, by leaving out from the words "fictitious List" to the end of the Question.

And the Question being put, That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question:-It passed in the Negative.

Then the main Question, so amended, being put;

And the House having continued to sit till after twelve of the clock on Friday morning;

Veneris, 21 die Maii, 1830:

Resolved, That it appears, by the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee to whom several Petitions complaining of the said Subscription List, were referred, That the said Subscription List is a false and fictitious List.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That the said Thomas Eyre Lee has thereby been guilty of a breach of the privileges of this House;

An Amendment was proposed to be made to the Question, by leaving out from the words "Thomas Eyre Lee" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "though warned as to the suspicious character of the said List, did nevertheless, as agent for the Bill, attest its truth without due inquiry into the circumstances to which his attention had been specially directed" instead thereof.

And the Question being put, That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question:-It passed in the Negative.

And the Question being put, That the words "though warned as to the suspicious character of the said List, did nevertheless, as Agent for the Bill, attest its truth without due inquiry into the circumstances to which his attention had been specially directed" be added instead thereof:-It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question, so amended, being put;

Resolved, That the said Thomas Eyre Lee, though warned as to the suspicious character of the said List, did nevertheless, as Agent for the Bill, attest its truth without due inquiry into the circumstances to which his attention had been specially directed.

Ordered, That Thomas Eyre Lee be for his said offence called to the bar of this House, and there reprimanded by Mr. Speaker.

Thomas Eyre Lee being called to the bar, received a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker; and then he was directed to withdraw.

The Reprimand is as follows:

Thomas Eyre Lee,

The House, after lengthened and mature consideration of the case in which you are involved, and having given every attention to the Petition which you have presented, have come to the conclusion that the offence which you committed is of a grave and serious nature, as affecting the dignity and character of this House, and of the most dangerous consequences to the property of individuals who may be concerned in the passing of Private Bills. It has been proved to the conviction of the House, that the Subscription List which you deposited, was false and fictitious in itself; and that you, though warned as to the suspicious character of the said List, did, nevertheless, as agent for the Bill, attest its truth, without due inquiry into the circumstances to which your attention had been specially directed; and, however severe a censure it must be to every honourable mind to receive such reprimand from the House, this House, in justice to the parties concerned in the case to which their attention has been particularly directed, as well as with a view to prevent the recurrence of any fraud of a similar nature, and to give security to those whose interests may be concerned in Private Bills, and further to vindicate the honour and dignity of the House, do direct that you be reprimanded for this offence. I have, in obedience to the command of the House, communicated this Reprimand to you, and I have now to acquaint you that you are discharged.

Ordered, Nemine Contradicente, That what has been now said by Mr. Speaker in reprimanding Thomas Eyre Lee, be entered in the Journals of the House.

Church Building Bill, ordered.

The House was moved, That the Acts 7 & 8 Geo. 4, c. 72, to amend the Acts for building, and promoting the building, of additional Churches in populous Parishes, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the said Act: And that Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Solicitor General do prepare, and bring it in.

Petition referred to a Committee.

The House was moved, That the Petition of William Boulnois, Francis Roe, Robert FitzGerald, Robert Ponsonby Staples, William Henry May, Vernon Abbott, Christopher Abbott, John Lock Cartwright, and others, principal Proprietors of Public Cabriolets, for continuance of the present regulations respecting Stage Coaches carrying passengers for short distances in the streets of the metropolis, which was presented to the House upon Tuesday last, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Select Committee on Hackney Coach Office.

A Motion was made, and the Question was proposed, That counsel be heard before the said Committee thereupon:-And the said Motion was, with leave of the House, withdrawn.

County Rate (Ireland) Bill, ordered.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate the Applotment of County Rate and Cesses in Ireland: And that Mr. Henry Maxwell and Mr. Moore do prepare, and bring it in.

Libels Bill, ordered.

The House was moved, That the Act 60 Geo. 3, c. 8, for the more effectual Prevention and Punishment of blasphemous and seditious Libels, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of said Act as relates to the Sentence of Banishment for the second offence, and to provide some further remedy against the abuse of publishing Libels: And that Mr. Attorney General and Mr. Solicitor General do prepare, and bring it in.

Northern Roads Bill, ordered.

The House was moved, That the Report which, upon the 23rd day of March last, was made from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Roads between London and Edinburgh, and London and Portpatrick, and who were empowered to report their observations thereupon, together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them, to the House, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Improvement of the Roads from London to Edinburgh, and from London to Portpatrick, and for the further Improvement of the Roads from London to Holyhead, and from London to Liverpool: And that Lord Viscount Morpeth and Sir Henry Parnell do prepare, and bring it in.

Sir Jonah Barrington to be heard by Counsel.

The House was moved, That the Petition of Sir Jonah Barrington, Judge of the High Court of Admiralty of Ireland, which was presented to the House upon Thursday last, praying to be heard by counsel on the further consideration of the Report which, upon Monday the 10th day of this instant May, was made from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Eighteenth Report of the Commissioners of Judicial Inquiry in Ireland, which was presented to the House upon the 9th day of February, in the last Session of Parliament; of the Deposition forwarded to the Commission of Judicial Inquiry by Sir Jonah Barrington, Judge of the Court of Admiralty in Ireland, which was presented to the House upon the 16th day of March, in the last Session of Parliament; and, of the Report which, upon the 1st day of June, in the last Session of Parliament, was made from the Committee appointed to take into consideration the Eighteenth Report of the Commissioners of Judicial Inquiry in Ireland, together with the Deposition forwarded to those Commissioners by Sir Jonah Barrington, Judge of the High Court of Admiralty in Ireland, and other papers connected with the conduct of Sir Jonah Barrington, in the discharge of his judicial functions, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That Sir Jonah Barrington be heard by his counsel on the further consideration of the said Report.

Administration of Justice Bill, re-committed.

Ordered, That the Order of the day, for taking into further consideration the Report from the Committee of the whole House, on the Bill for the more effectual Administration of Justice in England and Wales, be now read; and the same being read:-The Bill was re-committed to a Committee of the whole House for this day.

Report on King's Message respecting the Appointment of additional Judges.

Sir Alexander Grant reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of His Majesty's most gracious Message of the 22d day of March last, the Resolutions which they had directed him to report to the House; and the same were read, and agreed to by the House; and are as followeth;

1. Resolved, That His Majesty be enabled to grant a net annual Salary, not exceeding Five thousand pounds, to each of the additional Judges (not exceeding three in the whole) who may be appointed to the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas and Exchequer; and that the said sum be issued and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

2. Resolved, That His Majesty be enabled to grant to the said additional Judges the same Retirement Allowances as the Puisne Judges of each Court are now by law entitled to on the resignation of their respective offices.

Instruction.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, on the Bill for the more effectual Administration of Justice in England and Wales, That they have Power to make provision therein, pursuant to the said Resolutions.

Report on Welsh Judges Compensation.

Sir Alexander Grant reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of compensating certain Judges or other Officers of the Courts of Great Sessions in Wales, the Resolution which they had directed him to report to the House; and the same was read, and agreed to by the House; and is as followeth;

Resolved, That Compensation be made out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to certain Judges and Officers of the Courts of the County Palatine of Chester, and of the several Courts of Great Sessions in the Principality of Wales, whose Salaries or lawful Fees and Emoluments may be abolished or reduced by the effect of any Act of this Session for the more effectual Administration of Justice in England and Wales.

Instruction.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, on the Bill for the more effectual Administration of Justice in England and Wales, That they have Power to make provision therein, pursuant to the said Resolution.

Administration of Justice Bill, considered; No. 434.

The House, according to the Order made this day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill for the more effectual Administration of Justice in England and Wales; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair; and Sir Alexander Grant reported from the Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made other Amendments thereunto.

Ordered, That the Report be now received.

reported.

Sir Alexander Grant accordingly reported from the Committee the Amendments which they had made to the Bill; and the Report was brought up, and read.

Ordered, That the Report be taken into further consideration upon Tuesday next.

Ordered, That the Bill, as amended, be printed.

Parish Vestries Bill, committed.

Ordered, That the Order of the day, for the second reading of the Bill for the Regulation of Parish Vestries, and for lighting and watching Towns in England and Wales; be now read; and the same being read:-The Bill was read a second time; and committed to Mr. Hobhouse, Mr. Robert Gordon, Mr. Ross, Sir Francis Burdett, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Mr. Hume, Mr. Sturges Bourne, Lord Viscount Althorp, Sir James Graham; Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Warburton; Mr. Slaney, Mr. Byng, Marquis of Chandos, Mr. John Wood, Mr. Estcourt, Lord Viscount Ebrington: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That Five be the Quorum of the Committee.

Proceeding on Galway Franchise Bill.

Ordered, That the Order of the day, for resuming the adjourned Debate upon the Motion made yesterday; "That the House do agree to the Amendments made by the Committee to the Bill to repeal so much of an Act passed in Ireland, in the fourth year of the reign of King George the First, for the better regulating the Town of Galway, and for strengthening the Protestant Interest therein, as limits the Franchise created by the said Act to Protestants only," be now read; and the same being read:-The House resumed the said adjourned Debate.

And the Question being again proposed, That the House do agree to the Amendments made by the Committee:- And a Debate arising in the House thereupon;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Debate be further adjourned till Monday next;

And it appearing upon the Report of the Division by the Tellers, that Forty Members were not present; and it being then half an hour after three of the clock on Friday morning:-The House was adjourned by Mr. Speaker, without a Question first put, till this day.