HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, February 19. the forenoon: They there discovered, that all the loaves found by them (each of which ought to contain 16 ounces, and to be distributed daily, at 10 o'clock in the morning) were greatly deficient in point of quantity, as will be seen from the annexed statement on the part of one of the magistrates of the city of London: That the prison weight demanded and used PETITION RESPECTING THE COLD-BATHFIELDS PRISON.]-Mr. Sheridan held in his hand a Petition similar to that which he had yesterday withdrawn, in deference to what seemed to be the sense of the house. Yet though he had given way he could not help thinking that there was no suf-upon the present occasion, for trying the ficient reason for refusing to receive the petition. The doors of parliament ought to be thrown open as wide as possible, for the reception of the petitions of the subject representing his grievances; and if a petition was to be rejected merely because at the moment of presenting it the petitioners were not in the precise situation in which they described themselves to be, merely because they did not designate themselves properly, that designation being wholly immaterial to the subject of the petition, it would give rather an unfavourable impression as to the disposition which it was proper that parliament should be known to have to attend to all just complaints. The petitioners were, in part, grand jurors of the county of Middlesex on the day on which the petition was signed, the 3d of Nov. last, but on that day they ceased to be so. The present petition was from the foreman of that grand jury, Mr. Stephens, in his individual capacity. He wished to know however, whether he might not this day again offer to the sense of the house the petition which he had withdrawn yesterday. The Speaker recommended the right hon. gent. to acquiesce in the sense of the house expressed yesterday, as to the propriety of admitting that petition. Mr. Sheridan submitted, but he declared he would never again acquiesce in what he felt to be wrong. He then presented the petition, which was as follows: "To the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the honourable house of commons, of G. Britain and Ireland, in the united parliament assembled: The Petition of Alexander Stephens, of the honourable society of the Middle Tempie, and Park House, in the county of Middlesex, esq. humbly sheweih, That certain persons lately serving the office of grand jurymen for the county of Middlesex, to the number of about nine, having visited the House of Correction for the said county, commonly calied the Cold-Bath-Fields Prison, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the year of our Lord 1807, between the hours of 11 and 12 in 6 loaves in rotation, proved also deficient, as Mr. Sheridan, in moving that the Petition should lie on the table, felt it unnecessary to recommend it to that attention which he was sure his majesty's ministers would be disposed voluntarily to pay to it. But he begged more particularly to recal to the recollection of those gentlemen the Report of the committee of the house of commons, in the year 1800. The facts and suggestions contained in that report were yet unapplied in the way of reformation or relief. ment of their peers, or even the accusatory | tervention of the grand inquest of the verdict of a grand jury. Of this number nation, most humbly and earnestly solicits were a mother, a daughter, and a son, of this honourable house to take the premises creditable appearance; the two former in into consideration, and by a public and one cell, so situated as to be exposed to a open examination at its bar, or any other continual current of external air, without mode, afford such relief as may seem meet. the possibility of obtaining, even during A. STEPHENS." the severest frost, an artificial warmth by means of fuel, while the convicts below enjoyed all the comforts of an open roomy ward, with occasional access to fire. That in one of these lonely cells was closely confined a foreigner of some rank, the Chevalier de Blin, who, as we were told, by one of the jailors, while so immured, had been deprived of his reason, and who presented to your petitioner, after communicating with him for some time in the French language through the key-hole, and demanding entrance, a memorial on The Chancellor of the Exchequer contendhis knees. That in this place, originally ed, that the house could not with propriedestined for the improvement of the morals ty, have received the petition of last night, of petty offenders, a female prisoner, as on account of the petitioners presenting we have learned, has been lately de- themselves under a designation which did bauched by the son of the chief jailor, or not properly belong to them. If the house governor, who then held an office of trust were once to admit the principle of petiin the prison, and has since had a child, tioners approaching them under any other now, or at least lately, burdensome to the character than that to which they were parish of Kensington, in the county of strictly and properly entitled, it was imMiddlesex. That four debtors were shut possible to say what abuses might follow. up in this house of correction, the only Having stated thus much on the point of communication between whom and the form, he would now state to the house world, appears to take place occasionally, what had passed between him and the by means of two iron gates, at upwards of gentleman who had represented to him six feet distance from each other, with a the matter contained in the Petition offerjailor walking in at intervals, so as to preed to the consideration of the house. He clude complaint; and that from the ex- told that gentleman, that if he would give amination of a debtor, and also, by a letter him the facts in an official form, he would from him, both in the possession of your lay them before the secretary of state for petitioner, it appears that he was shut up the home department, with the strongest with persons guilty of robbery, and un- recommendation which he could give, natural crimes. And, lastly, that six in- though he was sure no recommendation nocent persons, the bills against whom had would be required to call the attention of been thrown out by the grand jury, were that noble person to a case of such a nadragged from Cold-Bath-Fields Prison to ture, coming in a proper authenticated Hicks's-hall, in open day, at the close of and tangible shape. The communication the session, first manacled, and then fast-was, in fact, made to his noble friend: but ened together by a rope, to be discharged by proclamation. Your petitioner, therefore, conceiving that such gross instances of fraud, coupled with such an open violation of the laws, and even of the express orders of session, are calculated to bring his majesty's government into contempt, and cast an unmerited odium on our most excellent constitution; thinking also, that if such malpractices were detected in a casual and slight survey, of less than two lars duration, far greater abuses are likely to be brought to light, by the in it came in an unofficial form, marked 'private,' and he could not feel himself warranted in taking any public step upon it, not holding himself at liberty to mention the name, or to designate the source from which he had derived his information.. He saw no necessity in presenting this petition, unless it were with a view to insinuate that his majesty's ministers were inclined to neglect what they were in fact perfectly disposed to do, if they were supplied with proper materials to proceed upon. the supply, there be laid on the exportation of all salt to the continent of Europe, a duty of 9d. per bushel; and on the ex Mr. Secretary Canning stated, that he also had received a letter upon this subject, which he had transmitted to his noble friend the secretary for the home depart-portation of all salt to distant parts in the ment. M. Sheridan wished to know the distinction taken in this case between an official and unofficial form of communication. The individuals concerned could make the communication, as it appeared from all that had been said, only as private persons. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that when a communication was marked private,' no disclosure could with propriety be made of its contents, nor of the name of its author, nor could it in any way be used as a public document. Mr. Sheridan said there must have been some mistake on this head, as such privacy could never have been intended by those who put themselves so publickly forward in this and in other places, to correct the grievance. Mr. Mellish said a few words in vindication of Mr. Mainwaring, who had, in conformity with his duty, referred this matter to the magistrates.-The Petition was then ordered to lie on the table. EXPORTATION OF COTTON.] The house resolved itself into a committee of ways and means, Mr. Wharton in the chair. The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to lay the same duty on the exportation from this country of cotton wool, the produce of British colonies, as now existed on the exportation from this country of cotton wool, the produce of any other part of the world. His object in proposing this was, not for the purpose of raising a revenue, but to effect a prohibition in the only way it could be effected. He had, therefore, calculated the duty so as to be just under the amount of the insurance which merchants would pay for the risk, if the article were prohibited. He therefore moved, That towards raising the supply there be laid on every pound of Cotton Wool exported from this country, being the produce of British colonies, the duty of ninepence. The article of salt was in great demand in the north of Europe, where it could not be dispensed with. By the measures of the enemy the exportation from this country would be increased, rather than obstructed, for those measures empowered the country by the law of retaliation, to prevent the continent from getting salt any where but from G. Britain. He therefore moved, That towards raising VOL. X. world (with the exception of British colonies) a duty of 3d a bushel.'-A conversation ensued, in which Mr. Ponsonby and lord H. Petty disputed the expediency of these propositions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Huskisson maintained the expediency of them. On the latter proposition Mr. Davenport and gen. Gascoyne recommended caution and deliberation. Mr. Baring was apprehensive that these duties on salt would act as protecting duties on the salt of American manufacture, and that when we had once lost the market for that article, we should be unable to regain it.-In answer to a question from lord H. Petty, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, that he meant the duty also to apply to the exportation of salt from the Bahamas to America.The Resolutions were then agreed to. ORDERS IN COUNCIL BILL.] The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, that in consequence of an amendment which he intended to introduce into the Orders in Council bill, he should propose that the bill should that night go through a committee, pro forma; that the report should be received on Monday, and that on Tuesday a recommitment should take place, when the bill might be discussed. Mr. Ponsonby expressed his satisfaction that the right hon. gent. had changed his opinion on the subject since 3 o'clock on that morning. His objection, however, to the principle of the bill was so strong, that he could not allow the Speaker to leave the chair without taking the sense of the house upon it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said it was not his intention to protract the discussion of this measure. He was not until this day aware, that alterations were necessary. If the right hon. gent. had a desire to take the sense of the house he might. It appeared to him, that the reason for taking the sense of the house upon the present occasion might be, that the right hon. gent. looking at the strength of the house might think, from the thinness of what were called the ministerial benches, that he was sure of a triumph. Mr. Ponsonby explained, and denied any such motive. Mr. H. Martin thought the measure was one of such paramount delinquency, that every opportunity should be taken to ex2 Y pose its injustice. He was surprised at the insinuation thrown out by the right hon. the chancellor of the Exchequer against his right hon. friend, who he knew was incapable of the motive attributed to him. He was satisfied the right hon. gent. could marshal his troops with much more celerity than could be effected on his side the house. A division then took place, when there appeared, 118 32 Matthew Russell, the rev. John Buller, clerk, John Evans, gent. John Stephens Croft, and Isaac Toby, delivered in a statement as follows: The petitioners 'contend, that the Right of Election of 'members to serve in parliament for the borough of Saltash, is in every person 6 seised of an estate for life, or some greater 'estate, in an entire ancient burgage tene'ment, situate in the borough aforesaid, whereon an ancient dwelling house now 'stands or formerly stood, and in no other persons.'-That the counsel for the petitioners W. Henry Fremantle and Tho. Francis Fremantle, esquires, delivered in a statement as follows: That the Right of Election for members to serve in parliament for the borough of Saltash is in the mayor and free burgesses of the said For the postponement . Against it, Majority -86 When strangers were re-admitted, we found the chancellor of the Exchequer on his legs, assuring the right hon. gent. (Mr. Ponsonby) that the division had convinced him, that he was mistaken in the insinuation he had previously made, with respect to any wish of taking an unfair advantage.borough, being members of the corpora HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday Feb. 22. [MINUTES.] Col. Stanley brought up the report of the Evesham Committee. The report stated that the sitting member, sir M. Lopez, bart. was not duly elected, and ought not to have been returned; that the petioner, II. Howorth, esq. was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; and that the opposition of the said sir M. Lopez, bart. to the petition of the said H. Howorth, esq. was not frivolous or vexatious. tion within the same, and in no other per'sons:'-That upon thestatement delivered in by the counsel for the petitioners, the said W. Henry Fremantle and Tho. Francis Fremantle, esquires, the said committee have determined; "That the Right of Election, as set forth in the said Statement, is not the right of election for the said borough of Saltash:" That upon the statement delivered in by the counsel for the Petitioners James Buller, esq. and others, the said committee have determined; "That the Right of Election, as set forth in the said Statement, is the right of election for the said borough of Saltash, so far as the said right is therein described:" That the said committee having duly considered the said statements, and the evidence adduced before them, touching the right of election for the said borough of Saltash, have determined; "That the Right of voting for members to serve in parliament for the borough of Saltash is in every person seised of an estate for life, or some greater estate, in an entire antient burgage tenement, situate in the borough aforesaid, whereon an antient dwelling house now stands or formerly stood, and in no other persons." And the said determinations were ordered to be entered in the Journals of the house. [SALTASII RIGHT OF ELECTION.] Ordered, That Mr. Wharton do make the Report from the select committee appointed to try and determine the merits of the Petion of James Buller, esq. Arthur Champernowne, esq. Matthew Russell, esq. the rev. John Buller, clerk, John Evans, gent. John Stephens Croft, and Isaac Toby, each of whom are seised of an entire ancient Burgage Tenement, situate within the Borough of Saltash, whereon an ancient dwelling house now stands or formerly stood; and also of the Petition of W. Henry Fremantle and Tho. Francis Fremantle, esquires, respecting the Right of Election for the said borough.-Mr. Wharton accordingly from the said committee informed the house, PETITION FROM BOLTON FOR PEACE.] That the said committee required the Col. Stanley presented a Petition from the counsel for the several parties to deliver inhabitants of Bolton in Lancaster, setting to the clerk of the said committee state- forth, "That the petitioners suffer great ments, in writing, of the Right of Elec-privations on account of the depressed tion for which they respectively contended: That, in consequence thereof, the counsel for the Petitioners James Buller, esq. Arthur Champernowne, esq. state of the manufactures, whereby the price of labour is reduced in the most unprecedented degree, and thousands of the petitioners threatened with the want of employment: that, in the judgment of the of which they complain, the mode of obpetitioners, the great suspension of com-taining that cure which they have adopted, merce arises chiefly from a want of the must necessarily retard its acquisition. customary intercourse with the continent While I allow that it is perfectly natural of Europe; and that the depressed reduc- for the petitioners, experiencing the pri tion of trade reduces thousands of the pe-vations which they do experience, to look titioners to the most extreme distress: that many useful enterprising and ingenious manufacturers, have been reduced from afluence to complete poverty, the consequence of which is, that number of the petitioners have been reduced to the absolute want of the necessaries of life for themselves and helpless offspring; and that the present situation of affairs still threatens the petitioners with additional suflerings to those they now experience: that, in the opinion of the petitioners, the present evils under which they so severely suffer, are owing to the continuation of the present war, which causes the extensive depression of foreign commerce, which the petitioners humbly presume can only be restored by the blessings of Peace: that the petitioners are not induced to petition the house on the subject of Peace from any dread of the enemy, but from a desire that no opportunity may be omitted to enter into negociations for that purpose; and that the petitioners, should the enemy, from ambitious motives, be induced to make demands inconsistent with our national honour and independence to grant, will ever feel it to be their duty, with one heart and mind, to think no sacrifices or privations too great when made for the honour and security of their king and country; and therefore praying, that the house would, in its great wisdom, recommend to his majesty, that no means be omitted, consistent with our national honour and security, for restoring to his faithful subjects the blessings of Peace."-On the motion, that the Petition do lie on the table, Mr. Secretary Canning said,-"Sir, I do not rise to object to the motion, satisfied as I am of the propriety of the terms in which the petitioners have claimed the attention of the house to a subject so highly interesting to the whole country; although I cannot but, at the same time, feel that it is a subject which must always be in the contemplation of this house, and of those whose duty it is to advise his majesty. I trust, sir, I shall not be considered as deficient in feeling for the situation of the petitioners, if I express my sincere opinion and conviction, that even were peace to be the immediate cure of the evils eagerly to any remedy that appears to promise them relief, yet, on the part of those who ought to take a more extensive view of the subject, I must deprecate any accusation of hardness of heart, if they de clare their firm opinion, that, should they be driven to a negociation under circumstances in which they must feel fettered and embarrassed, such would unquestionably not be the mode of obtaining the object prayed for by the petitioners; namely, a peace, consistent with the security and honour of the country. In expressing these sentiments, sir, I am sure I speak those of my colleagues. We are anxious to avail ourselves of the best means to accomplish this, desirable end. Our duty and our interest unite to induce us, if pos sible, to obtain a peace consistent with the security and honour of the country. We have missed no fair opportunity for that purpose. Sir, I am anxious to repeat, that we feel most strongly the distress of that situation from which the petitioners wish to be relieved; but we are bound to advise his majesty conscientiously to the best. of our judgment, and we are satisfied that, by a premature negociation, or one commenced on any grounds but those of perfect equality and independence, not only would the object of the petitioners fail of being realized, but any subsequent hopes which they might be led to entertain would be disappointed, in a manner the most injurious to them, and to the country at large."-The Petition was then ordered to lie on the table. [TREATY WITH SWEDEN.] Mr. Ponsonby observed, that on the first day of the session he had noticed a passage relating to Sweden, in the Speech of the lords commissioners, and having inquired of the right hon. secretary, whether by that passage it was implied, that the house should make good a subsidiary treaty with Sweden, the right hon. gent. had replied, that he expected shortly to have his majesty's commands to lay on the table of that house, a subsidiary treaty with Sweden. Above a month had elapsed, but no such treaty had been produced, although it was rumoured, on what authority he knew not, that a considerable sum of money had actually been sent from G. Britain to that country. He |