House of Commons Journal Volume 85: 23 March 1830

Martis, 23 die Martii; Anno 11 Georgii IV ti Regis, 1830.

PRAYERS.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A MESSAGE by Mr. Pulman, Deputy Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords, authorized by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, for declaring His Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses, do desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read.

Accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers:-And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That the House, at the desire of the Lords, authorized by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, had been at the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was read, giving declaring and notifying the Royal Assent to the several Public Bills and to one Private Bill therein mentioned; and that the Lords thereby authorized had declared the Royal Assent to the said Bills: Which Bills are as followeth;

An Act for continuing to His Majesty for one year certain Duties on Personal Estates, Offices and Pensions in England, for the Service of the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty:

An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters:

An Act for the Regulation of His Majesty's Royal Marine Forces while on Shore:

An Act for more effectually repairing the Roads to and from Longtown, and certain other Roads communicating therewith, in the County of Cumberland:

An Act for inclosing Lands in the Parishes of Kingston near Lewes, and Iford, in the County of Sussex.

Account of Pilotage, presented.

The House being informed that Mr. Hewlett, from the Office of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to the directions of several Acts of Parliament,-An Account of the Receipts and Appropriations of the Surplus Rates of Pilotage received under and by virtue of an Act passed in the 48th year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulation of Pilots, and of the Pilotage of Ships and Vessels navigating the British Seas;" and of another Act passed in the 52d year of his said late Majesty's reign, intituled, "An Act for the more effectual regulation of Pilots, and of the Pilotage of Ships and Vessels on the Coast of England;" and also, of another Act passed in the sixth year of His present Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled, "An Act for the Amendment of the Law respecting Pilots and Pilotage; and also for the better preservation of floating Lights, Buoys and Beacons; to create a Fund for the better support and maintenance of such Pilots belonging to the Fellowship of the Cinque Ports as shall be superannuated:-And then he withdrew.

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

Swansea Gas Bill, passed.

An ingrossed Bill for better lighting with Gas the Town of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Christopher Cole do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

St. Katharine Dock Bill, passed.

An ingrossed Bill to amend and alter two several Acts, passed in the 6th and 10th years of the reign of His present Majesty, for making and constructing certain Wet Docks, Warehouses and other works, in the Parish of Saint Botolph-without-Aldgate, and in the Parish or Precinct of Saint Katharine, near the Tower of London, in the County of Middlesex, and for enlarging and extending the Powers and Provisions of the said Acts, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Christopher Cole do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

Petition in favour of Clyde Navigation Bill.

A Petition of Merchants, Ship-owners and Traders of Cork, was presented, and read; taking notice of 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 praying, That the same may pass into a law.

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

Sheffield and Wakefield Road Bill, passed.

An ingrossed Bill for repairing the Road from Wakefield to Sheffield, in the County of York, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. William Duncombe do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

Trent and Mersey Canal Bill, committed.

A Bill to consolidate and extend the Powers and Provisions of the several Acts relating to the Navigation from the Trent to the Mersey, was read a second time; and committed to Mr. Littleton, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Petition for Provision in Walsall Road Bill.

A Petition of several Trustees for executing the Acts for repairing and widening the Road from Muckley Corner to Walsall and Wednesbury, and to Leigh Brook and Ocker Hill, and several other Roads in the county of Stafford, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for improving and maintaining the Road leading from Walsall to Muckley Corner, near Lichfield, and other Roads in the County of Stafford; and, setting forth, That the mortgage debt due and owing on the credit of the Tolls authorized to be taken on the said Roads comprised in the said Acts, amounts to the sum of 6,350l., and the floating debt due to the treasurers of such Roads to the sum of 424l. 2s. 9d., besides other debts due in respect of the same Roads; and that, for the better accommodation and greater safety of the public, it is necessary that a considerable sum of money should be immediately expended in improvements upon the said Roads, and in putting up fences in various parts on the sides of them, and also in converting into Turnpike the present highway, which lies between Leigh Brook and Ocker Hill, in the said county of Stafford, as in the said Bill mentioned; and that there are very extensive strata of limestone, and numerous pits or shafts are opened for the getting thereof in the immediate neighbourhood of the said Roads, and such limestone is there burned and converted into lime for agricultural and other purposes; and that such lime is sold at a low price, which causes large quantities of it to be carried along the said Roads to places at considerable distances from them, and such Roads are thereby very much worn, and a great expense is consequently incurred in the reparation of them; and that a Toll is imposed upon lime by the said several Acts, and that the taking it off would cause a very considerable reduction in the receipt of Tolls upon the said Roads, would lessen the security of the mortgagees upon them, and would render doubtful the sufficiency of the amount of such Tolls for the making of the said improvements for the putting up the said fences, and for the general purposes of the said Roads; and praying, That leave may be given to insert a Clause in the said Bill to impose a Toll upon lime to be carried along the said Roads, and used for any purpose whatever.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee:-And it is referred to Mr. Littleton, &c.: And they are to meet To-morrow, in the Speaker's Chamber; and have Power to send for persons papers and records.

Foston Bridge Bill, committed.

A Bill for repairing the Road from Foston Bridge, through the Town of Grantham, to the Division-stone on Witham Common, all in the County of Lincoln, was read a second time; and committed to Mr. Cholmeley, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Monks Risborough Inclosure Bill, committed.

A Bill for inclosing Lands in the Parish of Monks Risborough, in the County of Buckingham, was read a second time; and committed to the Marquis of Chandos, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Petitions in favour of Dundee Harbour Hill.

A Petition of the Lord Provost, Dean of Guild, and Magistrates of the city of Saint Andrew's;-of Inhabitants, Householders of the city and parish of Saint Andrew's;- of the Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of the burgh of Cupar;-of the Guildry Incorporation of the royal burgh of Cupar, in the county of Fife;-and, of Inhabitants and Householders of Glammis, in the county of Forfar,-were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for more effectually maintaining, improving and extending the Harbour of Dundee, in the County of Forfar; and praying, That the same may pass into a law.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Ardwick Green and Wilmslow Road Bill, passed.

An ingrossed Bill for more effectually repairing and improving the Road from Chorlton-row, near Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, to the Bridge at the Corn Mills at Wilmslow, in the County Palatine of Chester, was read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Egerton do carry the Bill to the Lords; and desire their concurrence.

Report on Neroche Forest (Somerset) Inclosure Bill, considered.

The House proceeded to take into further consideration the Report which was yesterday made from the Committee on the Bill for inclosing the Forest of Roach otherwise Roche otherwise Neroach otherwise Neroche, in the Parishes of Broadway, Bickenhall, Beercrocombe, Ilton, Barrington, Ashill, Illminster, Whitelackington, Curland, Donyatt, Isle-Abbotts, Hatchbeauchamp, and the Tithing of Domett, in the Parish of Buckland Saint Mary, or some or one of them, in the County of Somerset:-And the Amendments made by the Committee to the Bill being read a second time, were agreed to by the House.

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

Petitions against Lambeth Bridge Bill.

A Petition of the Court of Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames, -and, of the Free Watermen of the River Thames, usually plying at Lambeth Palace Stairs, in the parish of Saint Mary Lambeth,-were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for building a Bridge across the River Thames, from or near the Horseferry Road, in the Parish of Saint John-the-Evangelist, in the County of Middlesex, to the opposite Shore, at or near to Church-street and Forestreet, in the Parish of Saint Mary Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, and for making convenient Roads thereto; and praying, That they may be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents against certain parts thereof.

And the said Petitions were ordered to be referred to the Committee on the Bill; and that the Petitioners be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents upon their Petitions, if they think fit.

Ordered, That counsel be admitted to be heard in favour of the Bill, against the said Petitions.

Petition for provision in Breconshire Roads Bill.

A Petition of Edward Frere, of Clydach Iron Works, in the parish of Llanelly, in the county of Brecon, Ironmaster, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for more effectually repairing and improving several Roads in the Counties of Brecon, Radnor and Glamorgan; and for making and maintaining several new Branches of Road to communicate therewith; and setting forth, That one of the new Lines or Branches of Road so proposed to be made, extends from the present Crickhowell and Llanelly Road, at or near the Wenllan Brook, through or near to Llanelly Village, to join the Abergavenny and Merthyr Tidvil Turnpike Road, at or near a point between the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Railway, and a place called the Black Rock, through the several Parishes of Llangattockjuxta-Crickhowell and Llanelly, in the said County of Brecon, a Plan of which proposed Line of Road has been deposited in the Private Bill Office in the House; and that the making of the said Line of Road according to the said Plan, will not only be injurious to the Petitioner and to a large majority of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Llanelly, but will also be much less convenient to the public than if the same were to be made through the above-mentioned Parishes according to another Plan thereof, which, together with a Book of Reference thereto, was duly deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Peace for the said county on or before the 13th of November last, and Copies of which Plan and Book of Reference have been deposited in the Private Bill Office previous to the presenting of this Petition; and praying, That provision may be made in the said Bill for making the said proposed Branch according to such last-mentioned Plan so deposited in the Private Bill Office, or that he may have such other relief in the premises as to the House shall seem meet.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee:-And it is referred to Mr. Thomas Wood, &c.: And they are to meet To-morrow, in the Speaker's Chamber; and have Power to send for persons papers and records.

Lord Ellenborough's Divorce Bill, committed.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to dissolve the Marriage of the Right honourable Edward Baron Ellenborough with the Right honourable Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough his now wife, and to enable him to marry again, and for other purposes therein mentioned, was read a second time; and committed to a Committee of the whole House for Wednesday the 31st day of this instant March.

Instruction.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, that they do hear counsel and examine witnesses for the Bill, and also that they do hear counsel and examine witnesses against the Bill, if the parties concerned think fit to be heard by counsel, or produce witnesses.

Petition of J. W. Freshfield, respecting service of Orders.

A Petition of James William Freshfield, of New Bank Buildings, in the city of London, Gentleman, Agent for and on behalf of the Right honourable Edward Baron Ellenborough, was presented, and read; taking notice of the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, "An Act to dissolve the Marriage of the Right honourable Edward Baron Ellenborough with the Right honourable Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough his now wife, and to enable him to marry again, and for other purposes therein mentioned;" and setting forth, That the Petitioner is informed that it is the practice of the House, upon the second reading of Divorce Bills, to order that it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Bill, that they do hear counsel and examine witnesses for the Bill, and also that they do hear counsel and examine witnesses against the Bill, if the parties concerned think fit to be heard by counsel, or produce witnesses; that the said Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough is now resident abroad; that she hath been served with an attested copy of the said Bill as it was introduced into the House of Lords, and previous to the second reading of the Bill in that House, and appeared by her counsel at the Bar upon that occasion; that Messrs. Bateman & Jones, of Lincoln's Inn, are the agents of the said Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough, and have acted for her Ladyship upon different occasions in relation to the said Divorce, and in particular that Mr. John Jones, of the said firm of Bateman & Jones, attended the Consistory Court of the Bishop of London upon the occasion of the sentence of Divorce from bed and board and mutual cohabitation being pronounced, and also as her Ladyship's agent at the Bar of the House of Lords during the examination of witnesses in support of the Bill, and the said Messrs. Bateman & Jones have, as the Petitioner is informed, full authority to receive all proceedings touching the said Bill, and to act for Lady Ellenborough in respect thereof; that the Petitioner is apprehensive that the interests of the said Edward Boron Ellenborough may suffer by the progress of the said Bill being delayed; and praying, That the delivery of any Order the House may be pleased to make for the hearing of counsel and examination of witnesses against the said Bill, and also an attested copy of the said Bill, signed by the Clerk of this House, to the said Messrs. Bateman & Jones, may be deemed as effectual notice to the said Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough of the Order of the House and of the time of the commitment of the said Bill, as if the same had been personally served on her Ladyship.

And the House being informed that the said James William Freshfield attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar gave the House an account of the allegations contained in the said Petition:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the service of the Order of the House upon Messrs. Bateman & Jones, of Lincoln's Inn, the agents of the said Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough, and leaving an attested copy of the said Bill with them, be deemed good service of the same upon the said Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough.

Petitions against Glasgow Royalty Extension Bill.

A Petition of the Incorporation of Bakers;-of the Incorporation of Maltmen;-of the Incorporation of Coopers; -of the Incorporation of Skinners;-of the Incorporation of Fleshers;-of the Incorporation of Barbers;-of the Incorporation of Wrights;-and, of the Incorporation of Weavers in the city of Glasgow,-were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for extending the Royalty of the City of Glasgow over the Lands of Blythswood and adjacent Lands, and for amending the Acts relating to the Police of the said City; and praying, That they may be heard by their counsel or agents against certain parts thereof.

And the said Petitions were ordered to be referred to the Committee on the Bill; and that the Petitioners be heard by their counsel or agents upon their Petitions, if they think fit.

Ordered, That counsel be admitted to be heard in favour of the Bill, against the said Petitions.

Petitions in favour of Broomielaw (Glasgow) Railway and Tunnel Bill.

A Petition of Traders or Coal-owners along the Monkland Canal;-of Matthew Fleming, Esquire, of Sawmillfield, and Adam Dawson, Esquire, of Bonnytown;-of Proprietors of the lands of Easter and Wester Common, Cowlairs, Pinxton, Sighthill, Petershill and others, lying within the burgh of Glasgow, and on the north side of the canal;-of Alexander Balfour, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures for Forfarshire;- and, of the Provost, Magistrates, Town Council and Deacons of Incorporations of the royal burgh of Lanark, -were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for making a Railway and Tunnel from the Broomielaw Harbour of Glasgow, to communicate with the Canals and Railways passing by, or terminating at, the higher Levels towards the North and North-east of the said City of Glasgow; and praying, That the same may pass into a law.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Report from Committee on Standing Orders.

Lord Viscount Althorp reported from the Select Committee, to whom shall be referred all Reports from Committees on Petitions for Private Bills, in which it shall be stated that any of the Standing Orders of this House have not been complied with, and that such Committee do report their opinion thereupon from time to time to the House; and to whom several Reports, stating that the Standing Orders have not been complied with, were referred; That they have made a further progress in the matters to them referred, and had come to a Resolution, which they had directed him to report to the House; and the same was read, and is as followeth;

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that in the case of the Petition complaining of non-compliance with the Standing Orders in respect to the Petition for the Stockport Junction Railway Bill, the Standing Orders in regard to the said Bill ought not to be dispensed with.

Petition against Dundee Harbour Bill.

A Petition of Managers appointed by the Lords of Council and Session to act in the management of the ordinary affairs of the burgh of Dundee, in the county of Forfar, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for more effectually maintaining, improving and extending the Harbour of Dundee, in the County of Forfar; and praying, That they may be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents against certain parts thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee on the Bill; and that the Petitioners be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents upon their Petition, if they think fit.

Ordered, That counsel be admitted to be heard in favour of the Bill, against the said Petition.

Polloc and Govan Railway Bill, committed.

A Bill for making and maintaining a Railway from the Lands of Polloc and Govan to the River Clyde, at the Harbour of Broomielaw; in the County of Lanark, with a Branch to communicate therefrom, was read a second time; and committed to Mr. Archibald Campbell, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Petition against Garnkirk Railway and Keppoch Road Bill.

A Petition of Archibald Stirling, Esquire, of Renmuir, Tutor at Law, named and appointed by the Court of Session to William Stuart Crawford Stirling, Esquire, of Milton, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for amending certain Acts for making the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway, and for improving, maintaining and rendering Turnpike the Road leading from the said Railway near Broomhill, by Keppoch Bridge, to the Town Head of Glasgow; and praying, That he may be heard by himself, his counsel or agent against certain parts thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee on the Bill; and that the Petitioner be heard by himself, his counsel or agent upon his Petition, if he think fit.

Ordered, That counsel be admitted to be heard in favour of the Bill, against the said Petition.

Accounts of Excise Fines, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of all Fine imposed in the last three years by the Board of Excise, on Licensed Dealers in Foreign Wines; stating the amount of each Fine, and the Offence for which it was inflicted; and distinguishing those Fines imposed for fraud or fraudulent intention, from those imposed for breach of regulation.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of all Fines imposed on Licensed Dealers in Foreign Spirits.

Petitions for abolishing Slavery.

A Petition of Members of a Congregation of Protestant Dissenters in Hanley, in Staffordshire;-and, of Inhabitants of Lane End, Staffordshire,-were presented, and read; praying, That the House will take the case of the Slaves into their earliest and most earnest consideration, and that they will not permit any motives of mere expediency to turn them from imparting the justice required at their hands, by bringing about their freedom in the most wise, speedy and effectual manner.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Petitions, complaining of Distress.

A Petition of Labourers at Barn Elm Farm, in the parish of Barnes, in the county of Surrey;-of the Gentry, Freeholders, Occupiers of lands, and other Inhabitants of the county of Rutland, in County Meeting assembled; -of Inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Huddersfield;-of Owners and Occupiers of land in the county of Nottingham;-of Landowners, Occupiers, Tradesmen and other Inhabitants of the hundred of Clackclose, in the county of Norfolk;-of Inhabitants of the borough of Colchester and its vicinity;-of Manufacturers, Shopkeepers, Mechanics, Artisans and other Inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Dudley;-and, of Sir William G. H. Jolliffe, Baronet, High Sheriff of Surrey, and Chairman of a meeting of the inhabitants of the county of Surrey,-were presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are desirous of representing to the House, in the strongest terms, the great and overwhelming distress in which the agricultural and commercial interests of this once opulent country are now involved; and praying, That the earliest and most serious attention of the House may be applied to the devising some effectual relief for the general distress.

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

Petitions against Renewal of East India Charter.

A Petition of Inhabitants of the clothing district of Batley, in the county of York;-of Merchants, Manufacturers and other Inhabitants of the city of Carlisle and its vicinity;-of Inhabitants of Wotton Underedge, in the county of Gloucester or its vicinity;-and, of the Clothing District of Soothill, in the county of York,-were presented, and read; praying, That the East India Company's Monopoly should be so far modified, as that all British subjects may at least be on a level with foreigners in their commercial intercourse with China and the interior of India.

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

Petition for Reform of Practice in the Law Courts.

A Petition of Inhabitants of Carlisle and neighbourhood, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have heard with great satisfaction, that measures are now before the House for introducing various reforms into the practice of the Courts of Law of this Kingdom; that, having learned from Magna Charta that justice shall not be sold, denied or delayed, the Petitioners for a long period of time have beheld with regret the continuance of various practices in the administration of the laws, such as the taking of fees from unfortunate suitors, the employment of various useless forms (most of them for the purpose of confounding truth and defeating right) called pleadings, and the vexatious, cruel and mischievously expensive bandying of suits from one court to another, which completely upset these wholesome maxims of the fundamental Charter of our rights and liberties; that the Petitioners have frequently heard of opinions propounded from the bench by Judges being afterwards acted upon as law by other Judges, although such opinions have been shown to be contrary to all written laws established in this country, and believe that such practices have led to great confusion, in many instances to the denial of justice, and in still more to decisions on grounds foreign to the merits of the case; that from the multiplicity of laws, and their inconsistency with each other, much loss of time, the expenditure of large, and in many cases ruinous, sums of money and great uncertainty are caused to suitors; that, to remedy these and various other evils arising from the present state of the law and the practice of the courts, the Petitioners conceive that local jurisdictions should be established to expedite the administration of justice, and save expense to suitors, pleadings abolished, judge-made law forbidden, and that the laws should be put into such concise, clear and intelligible form, that every man may easily and readily understand them; and praying, That these matters may be taken into the consideration of the House as early as possible, and that no time be lost in placing justice within the reach of every man, however humble in rank or poor in circumstances.

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

Petitions for removing Disabilities affecting the Jews.

A Petition of Inhabitants of the northern division of the city of London;-and, of Inhabitants of the eastern division of the city of London, professing the Jewish religion,-were presented, and read; praying the House to extend to the Jews of Great Britain such privileges and advantages as to the House may seem just, reasonable, upright and proper.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Petition for extending Political Privileges to the Jews of Ireland.

A Petition of Thomas Flanagan, was presented, and read; setting forth, That by the Irish Naturalization Act, 23 and 24 Geo. 3, c. 38, the Jews are precluded the possibility of living in Ireland, such was the intolerance and woeful bigotry then in that country; the consequence is, that there are no Jews living in any of the great commercial towns in Ireland; that it would exalt the character of Great Britain, add to the dignity of its people, and give additional spirit and vigour to the trade and institutions of the country, to render the Jews of Great Britain and its Colonies eligible to the corporate freedom, municipal offices, the elective franchise, and all other offices and places upon their taking the necessary oaths on the Old Testament, which in fact can be deemed, or ought to be considered, their only obligation, whereupon the circulation of money would find its way through the country, the manufacturing districts would be relieved, and foreign Jews would embrace the opportunity of availing themselves of the field of liberality, and their wealth would be beneficially and usefully applied; and praying the House to repeal the Irish Act aforesaid, and to grant the Jews all the privileges and advantages of free-born subjects, upon their taking the usual oaths on the Old Testament only.

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

Petition respecting Londonderry Corporation.

A Petition of John Sheehan, of the city of Londonderry, was presented, and read; complaining of the conduct of the corporation of Londonderry; stating the particulars of his case; and praying the House to compel the corporation of Derry to furnish a statement of its affairs, specifying the amount of its revenue, and from what source it is derived, to what uses it has been applied during the last fifteen years, and also the amount of money which it has at present borrowed.

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

Account respecting Londonderry Corporation, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of all Sums advanced from the Consolidated Fund, or other Public Monies, to the Corporation of Londonderry, for the purpose of improving the Harbour, or building a Bridge, or other purpose, in and since 1814; stating the date and conditions on which the same was advanced, the dates of re-payment of the same, and the amount of the balance now due by the Corporation.

Returns respecting Courts Martial, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of all Officers of the Army who have been dismissed the Service, without Trial by a Court Martial (since the Return dated Horse Guards, 14th February 1827); stating the numbers of each rank, and the numbers in each year.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the Number of General Courts Martial held at the Head Quarters in London, in Scotland, and in Ireland, in each year, from 1820 to 1829 inclusive; and the Number of such Courts Martial at which the Judge Advocates General in Scotland and Ireland officiated in person in each year.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the Number of Persons in the Army tried by General Courts Martial in each year, from 1820 to 1829, both inclusive; distinguishing the number of Officers and of Men tried, and of General Courts Martial, from General Regimental and District Courts Martial; and also the number of such Proceedings laid before His Majesty in each year.

Returns to be printed No. 173.

Ordered, That the Returns of the number of Contracts now existing for Supplies for His Majesty's Dock Yards, and other branches of the Naval Service, which were presented to the House upon Thursday last, be printed.

Petition respecting Registration of Births.

A Petition of Archibald Hamilton Rowan, of Killyleagh Castle, in the county of Down, Ireland, and General George Cockburn, of Shangannagh, in the county of Dublin, both members of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, was presented, and read; praying the House to enact some compulsory Clauses to regulate the registry of marriages, births and baptisms in the Presbyterian congregations in Ireland, to prevent the celebration of irregular marriages, and to define more accurately the power of ministers in this respect, which has been grossly abused in the case complained of by the Petitioners.

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

Petition respecting Hawkers.

A Petition of regular Traders and Dealers, in the county of Monmouth, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are established in business, and bear those public burthens and pay those rates which men established in business are obliged to bear and to pay; that the object of the Petitioners presenting themselves before the House on the present occasion is, to entreat the protection of the House against the injurious traffic of a numerous and increasing body of men, and who contribute no proportionate share towards those burthens and other rates to which the Petitioners have just alluded; that the men to whom the Petitioners have referred the attention of the House, are those who hawk tea, drapery, jewellery, and goods of every description, in the various cities, towns and villages throughout this kingdom; that there were times, in the recollection of the Petitioners, when trade was better than it now is, and when comparatively few of such men carried on this traffic, and, supposing that they had done so, the Petitioners would have been the last to have interfered with the industrious habits of any class of His Majesty's subjects; as the times now are, however, with a diminished trade and overwhelming taxation, it most unfortunately happens, that the numbers of those men have increased to a degree so alarming as to deprive the Petitioners of that trade, reduced as it is, and thereby disenable them to meet those taxes which the exigencies of the State so urgently require; that this, or some such enactment, which the wisdom of the House will be better able to devise, as fixing the License of the Hawker of every description at the sum of 25£. a year, instead of its present low rate, would amount to that protection which the Petitioners so earnestly entreat, at all events it would compel a competition, from which they would not shrink, instead of being subjected, as they are, to the effects of a traffic so injurious to their interest, by which they are deprived of that profit they humbly conceive to be their right, as they are heavily rated to support the burthens of their respective neighbourhoods and parishes, and which are unhappily yearly increasing, while the means of meeting them, from the above cause, are daily on the decrease.

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

Petitions for Anitigating the severity of the Criminal Law.

A Petition of Magistrates, Clergy, Bankers, Merchants and Manufacturers, Inhabitants of Birmingham;-and, of the Mayor, Justice, Aldermen, and Inhabitants of Chepping Wycombe, were presented, and read; praying the House to take the Criminal Code into their serious consideration, and to make such alterations and amendments therein as shall divest it of its sanguinary appearance, secure the strict enforcement of the punishments denounced by the law, and as far as possible apportion the punishments to the nature of the offence.

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

Petitions in favour of Poor Law Amendment Bill.

A Petition of Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the several parishes or parochial chapelries within the town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and of the townships within the said parishes or parochial chapelries; -and, of the Churchwardens, Overseers and Select Vestry of the parish of Liverpool,-were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill to prevent Abuses of the Poor Laws, by declaring and amending the Law relating to the Employment and Payment of Able-bodied Labourers from the Poor Rates, and for the better rating Tenements under a certain Annual Value; and praying, That the same may pass into a law.

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

Petition for repeal of Malt and Beer Duties.

A Petition of Farmers, Tradesmen and others, Inhabitants of the parishes of Brede and Udimore, in the county of Sussex, was presented, and read; praying, That the Duties on Malt and Beer may be totally repealed.

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

Petition for holding the Parliament in Dublin.

A Petition of Patrick Matthews, Chairman of a meeting of the Parishioners of Killsaran and Stabannon, was presented, and read; praying the House to enact a law that the British Parliament be held in future every third year in Dublin.

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

Petition for alteration of Poor Laws.

A Petition of Magistrates, Land-owners, Clergy, Yeomen and other Inhabitants of the three hundreds of Newport, in the county of Buckingham, was presented, and read; setting forth, That in approaching the House with a Petition on the subject of the Poor Laws, they beg leave humbly to express their approbation of a legal provision for such of their fellow-creatures as are suffering at the same time under the afflictions of poverty and bodily infirmity, but with respect to that part of the 43d Eliz. c. 2, s. 1, which was passed "for setting to work all such persons, whether married or unmarried, having no means of maintaining them, and use no ordinary or daily trade of life to get their living by," they believe it to be erroneous in principle and dangerous in practice; that the Petitioners believe the part of the statute just recited was intended to repress the demands of sturdy vagabonds, and to force work upon those who lived in a state of idle mendicity; but that the lamentable, though unforeseen result of it is found to be this, namely, that almost the whole agricultural population is now in a state of abject dependence; and praying, That this Law, which in its execution holds out the vain promise of providing employment and maintenance for almost an entire and rapidly increasing population, but by which all ranks of His Majesty's subjects are aggrieved, may be gradually repealed; and that in the mean time, and for the promotion of this indispensable object, overseers and churchwardens may be legally empowered to offer the advantages of emigration and to defray its expense, for the benefit of those who, enjoying health and strength, are yet unable to obtain work.

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

The Lords request Copy of Report.

A Message from the Lords by Mr. Cross and Mr. Trower:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House, That the Lords do request that this House will be pleased to communicate to their Lordships, a Copy of a Report made by the Select Committee appointed by this House in Session 1828, on the Laws relating to Irish and Scottish Vagrants:-And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House will send an Answer to the said Message by Messengers of their own.

And the Messengers were again called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith:-And then they again withdrew.

Answer to Addresses.

Mr. Secretary Peel reported to the House, That their several Addresses of the 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th days of this instant March (that His Majesty would be graciously pleased to give directions that the Papers therein mentioned might be laid before this House), had been presented to His Majesty; and that His Majesty had commanded him to acquaint this House, That He will give directions accordingly.

Ireland-Reportson Public Records, presented. No. 174.

Mr. William Peel presented to the House, pursuant to their Address to His Majesty,-Copies of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Reports on the Public Records of Ireland.

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

Accounts of Butter and Cheese imported, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the total quantity (in hundred weights) of Butter imported into Great Britain from Foreign Countries and Ireland, in each year, from 5th January 1801 to 5th January 1830; distinguishing the quantity from Ireland, from the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey and Man, from Holland and the Netherlands, and from all other Foreign Countries, and stating the rate and amount of Duty in each year paid thereon.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantity of Foreign Butter and Foreign Cheese imported into the United Kingdom, in the years ended 5th January 1829 and 5th January 1830, the Countries imported from, the total amount of Duties paid, and rate of Duty in each year.

Address respecting Morden College.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Copy of all Correspondence between the Commissioners of Charities and the Trustees of Morden College, in the Parish of Kidbrook, in the County of Kent.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

Minutes to be printed. No. 175.

Ordered, That the Minutes of the Evidence taken before the Select Committee on the Petition of Charles Roper, of Rathfarnham Castle, in the County of Dublin, Esquire, and others, complaining of an undue Election and Return for the Town or Borough of Wexford, which were yesterday presented to the House, be printed.

Accounts of Pilotage, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of all Sums received by the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond, from the Thames River Pilots, in pursuance of the Act 6 Geo. 4, c. 125, s. 4, for the year ending 31st December 1829; distinguishing the Payments of Three Guineas each, from the Poundage paid upon the earnings of the said Pilots.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a List of the Names of the Thames River Pilots at present.

Report from Northern Roads Committee. No. 172.

Lord Viscount Morpeth reported 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; That they had considered the matters to them referred, and had directed him to make a Report thereof to the House, together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them, with an Appendix: And the Report was brought up, and read.

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

Petition respecting the Beer Trade.

A Petition of Inhabitants of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, was presented, and read; praying, That they may be heard by counsel at the bar of the House, against the proposed Act for throwing open the trade in Beer, and that the House will be pleased to repeal the Act of the 5th Geo. 4, c. 54, which has been already passed with that view, and that they will be pleased to grant to the Petitioners such further or other relief as they shall deem expedient.

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

Accounts of Fishery Bounties, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of all Sums of Money expended in each of the last five years, to the 5th January 1830, on the Fisheries of the United Kingdom; specifying under what Heads the same have been expended; and showing the total amount of the whole Expense; together with the Sums now remaining in hand.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the Establishments of the Commissioners of the Scotch and Irish Fisheries respectively; showing the Salary and other Emoluments of each Officer employed by them.

Rye Election- Petition for enlarging Time for Recognizance.

A Petition of Samuel Miller, of Bedford Row, in the county of Middlesex, Gentleman, agent of John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden, and James Blake, all of the town and port of Rye, in the county of Sussex, having, and claiming to have, a right to vote for Members of Parliament for the said town and port, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden, and James Blake, did, on the 12th day of March instant present a Petition to the House complaining of an undue Election and Return for the said town and port; that Lieutenant Colonel De Lacy Evans, who was a Candidate at the last Election of a Baron to serve in Parliament for the said town and port, and for whom the Petitioner is also agent, presented a Petition on the same day, complaining of an undue Election and Return for the said town and port; that, by an Act made in the ninth year of the reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Trial of Controverted Elections, or Returns of Members to serve in Parliament," the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, or some or one of them, are or is required to enter into a recognizance in the sum of 1,000£. with two sufficient sureties in the sum of 500£. each, or four sufficient sureties in the sum of 250l. each, to be approved of in manner therein mentioned, within fourteen days after presenting such Petition to the House; and the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake were also required on the day when such Petition was presented, or on the next day at furthest, to deliver, or cause to be delivered, in writing to the Clerk of the House of Commons, the names, together with the additions, and usual places of residence of the persons proposed to become such sureties; that the said De Lacy Evans is also required by the said Act to enter into a recognizance in the sum of 1,000£. with similar sureties, and to be approved of, and their names to be furnished in like manner; that, in pursuance of the directions contained in the said Act, the Petitioner gave the names, additions, and usual places of residence, of two sureties on behalf of the said De Lacy Evans, the day after the said Petition was presented, and such sureties were Thomas Edwards, of Bedford-square, in the county of Middlesex, Esquire, Doctor of Laws, and Archibald Money, of Crown Point, in the county of Norfolk, a Lieutenant Colonel in His Majesty's Army; but the Petitioner, not being aware that recognizances were required upon both the said Petitions, was not provided with the names of two sureties on behalf of the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, and there not being time to communicate with such last-named parties, the said De Lacy Evans authorized and requested the Petitioner to deliver to the Clerk the names of the said Thomas Edwards and Archibald Money, both of whom are friends of the said De Lacy Evans, as sureties for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake also, which the Petitioner accordingly did; that an appointment was made for examining into the sufficiency of the said sureties, and due notice given for this day, when the said Thomas Edwards and Archibald Money attended before the examiners appointed to examine into their sufficiency, and entered into the recognizance for the said De Lacy Evans; and the said Thomas Edwards was also prepared to enter into the recognizance for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden, and James Blake, but the said Archibald Money declined to enter into the same; that the Petitioner had no reason to believe that the said Archibald Money would object to enter into the said recognizance, as the surety for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, at the time he delivered in his name to the said Clerk, nor was he apprized of his objecting thereto until yesterday; that the time limited by the said Act for such recognizance being completed will expire on the 26th instant; that all of them, the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden, and James Blake, reside at the said town and port of Rye, which is more than sixty miles distant from London, and the Petitioner is in daily expectation of receiving the recognizance required by the said Act to be entered into by them, some or one of them; that Charles Barry Baldwin, of No. 6, Parliament-street, in the city and liberty of Westminster, Esquire, has proposed to become the surety for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, in place of the said Archibald Money, who has so declined to enter into the recognizance as aforesaid; and the Petitioner, as the agent for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, is therefore desirous that the name of the said Charles Barry Baldwin may be substituted for that of the said Archibald Money, and that the time for entering into and receiving such recognizance may be enlarged for fourteen days; the Petitioner therefore humbly prays, That the name of the said Charles Barry Baldwin, as one of the sureties for the said John Meryon, Thomas Barry, William Ellenden and James Blake, may be substituted for that of the said Archibald Money, and that the time limited for taking the recognizances of such sureties as aforesaid may be enlarged for fourteen days beyond the said 26th day of March instant.

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

Petition respecting Anatomy.

A Petition of Physicians and Surgeons residing in Sheffield, was presented, and read; praying, That the disadvantages under which the science of Anatomy is now placed, and the difficulties under which the Petitioners and the Professors of physic and surgery labour, may be taken into early consideration, and that the House will consider the best means which to them may appear meet for removing the same.

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

Petition for a National Cemetery.

A Petition of Thomas Willson, Architect, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, having devoted his attention to the state of the church-yards, cemeteries and burial-grounds of the several parishes of the cities of London and Westminster and their suburbs, finds the said burial-grounds disgustingly over-crowded, generally obnoxious and of extreme danger, affecting the public health, in many instances presenting scenes of profanation horrible to the feelings of surviving relatives, revolting and repugnant to humanity; and recommending the building of a National Cemetery; stating the particulars of his plan; and praying the House to take the condition of the said cemeteries, burial-grounds, &c. into their serious consideration, and provide against the appalling evils which otherwise must necessarily result from continuing to inhume the dead within certain limits of the said cities and suburbs.

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

Fisheries Bill, presented.

Lord Francis Leveson Gower presented a Bill to continue, for a time to be limited, the several Acts for the Encouragement and Improvement of the British and Irish Fisheries: And the same was read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time upon Thursday next.

Motion respecting Judicial Proceedings in Van Diemen's Land.

A Motion was made, and the Question was proposed, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Copy of the Record of proceeding before the Magistrates in the Colony of Van Diemen's Land, and of the Judgment and Sentence whereby Joseph B. Clarke, James Cocks, Thomas Bird, William Fraser and Charles Browne, or any of them, were convicted and sentenced to corporal punishment for the crime of Forgery, or conspiracy to forge; and also, of the Record and Proceedings in the Supreme Court of the said Colony in the year 1824, and of the Judgment and Sentence whereby the said several persons, or any of them, were convicted of the crime of Forgery, and whether they were punished or pardoned for the same; and also, such information as may show whether the offence in the case before the Magistrates was the same or different from that before the Supreme Court:-And the said Motion was, with leave of the House, withdrawn.

Motion respecting Distress of the Country.

Ordered, That the Order of day, for resuming the adjourned Debate upon the Amendment which, upon Tuesday last, was proposed to be made to the Motion, That the Petititions, complaining of Distress of various classes of the Community be referred to a Committee of the whole House, with a view to inquire into and report on the Causes of their Grievances, and the Remedy thereof; and which Amendment was, to leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the extent and causes of the National Distress, and whether any and what Remedies can be applied," instead thereof, be now read; and the same being read:- The House resumed the said adjourned Debate.

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

Mercurii, 24 die Martii, 1830:

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 "a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the extent and causes of the National Distress, and whether any and what Remedies can be applied," be added instead thereof; it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question so amended, "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the extent and causes of the National Distress, and whether any and what Remedies can be applied," being put;

So it passed in the Negative.

Dramatic Writings Bill, deferred.

The Order of the day being read, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill to alter and extend the provisions of 54 Geo. 3, c. 156, with respect to Dramatic Writings;

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday the 22d day of April next, resolve itself into the said Committee.

Report Supply (22 March), deferred.

The Order of the day being read, for receiving the Report from the Committee of the whole House of Monday last, to whom it was referred to consider further of the Supply granted to His Majesty;

Ordered, That the Report be received To-morrow.

Illusory Appointments Bill, passed.

The ingrossed Bill to alter and amend the Law relating to Illusory Appointments was, according to Order, read the third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their concurrence.

Indemnity Bill, reported.

Sir Alexander Grant reported from the Committee of the whole House on the Bill to indemnify such Persons in the United Kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for Offices and Employments, and for extending the Time limited for those purposes respectively; and to permit such Persons in Great Britain as have omitted to make and file Affidavits of the execution of Indentures of Clerks to Attornies and Solicitors to make and file the same, and to allow Persons to make and file such Affidavits, although the Persons whom they served shall have neglected to take out their annual Certificates, the Amendments which they had made to the Bill; and the Amendments were read; and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed; and read the third time To-morrow.

Report Supply (19 March), deferred.

The Order of the day being read, for receiving the Report from the Committee of the whole House of Friday last, to whom it was referred to consider further of the Supply granted to His Majesty;

Ordered, That the Report be received To-morrow.

Fever Hospitals (Ireland) Bill, ordered.

The House was moved, That the Act 58 Geo. 3, c. 47, to establish Fever Hospitals, and to make other Regulations for Relief of the suffering Poor, and for preventing the increase of Infectious Fevers in Ireland, might be read; and the same was read.

The House was also moved, That the Act 3 Geo. 4, c. 21, to amend an Act passed in the fifty-eighth year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, for establishing Fever Hospitals, and for making other Regulations for relief of the suffering Poor, and for preventing the increase of Infectious Fevers in Ireland, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to extend the Powers of Grand Juries in the execution of an Act, of the fifty-eighth year of his late Majesty's reign, for establishing Fever Hospitals in Ireland: And that Lord Francis Leveson Gower and Mr. Doherty do prepare, and bring it in.

Tolls and Customs (Ireland) Bill, ordered.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to consolidate and amend the Laws respecting Tolls, Customs, and all other Duties taken by local Authority in Fairs, Markets, Sea-ports and all other Places in Ireland: And that Lord Francis Leveson Gower and Mr. Doherty do prepare, and bring it in.

Arms (Ireland) Bill, ordered.

The House was moved, That the Act 3 Geo. 4, c. 4, to regulate the Importation of Arms, Gunpowder and Ammunition into Ireland, and the making, removing, selling and keeping of Arms, Gunpowder and Ammunition in Ireland, for seven years, and from thence until the end of the then next Session of Parliament, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate the Importation of Arms, Gunpowder and Ammunition into Ireland, and the making, selling and keeping of Arms: And that Lord Francis Leveson Gower and Mr. Doherty do prepare, and bring it in.

Papers to be printed. No. 176.

Ordered, That the Copies of the Correspondence relating to Charitable Establishments in Dublin, which were presented to the House upon Friday last, be printed.

Berwick Light Dues Bill, committed.

A Bill for altering two Acts passed in the forty-sixth and fifty-fourth years of his late Majesty's reign, relating to the Northern Lighthouses, was read a second time; and committed to Mr. Beresford, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Members added to a Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Ashhurst and Mr. Cartwright be added to the Select Committee on High Sheriff's Office.

Four per Cent. Annuities Acts, to be considered.

The House was moved, That the Act 3 Geo. 4, c. 9, for transferring several Annuities of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum into Annuities of Four Pounds per Centum per Annum, might be read; and the same was read.

The House was also moved, That the Act 3 Geo. 4, c. 17, for converting Annuities and Debentures of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum, payable at the Bank of Ireland, into new Annuities of Four Pounds per Centum per Annum, might be read; and the same being read;

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Acts.

And then the House, having continued to sit till half an hour after two of the clock on Wednesday morning, adjourned till this day.