Doctors' Commons, and might be useful to some bookseller in making up some work of general biography, but could be only vexatious to the King's subjects. He moved as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months.

Sir E. Brydges complained of the contemptuous manner in which the Learned Gentleman had spoken of his measure: he perceived that any measure, however useful, originating with him, would be neglected, and himself treated with disregard.

The Bill having been thrown out by 82 to 3, the Hon. Member said he wished to withdraw the other measures standing on the Orders in his name. He was, however, requested to wait till the days when they were to come regularly before the House.

May 15.

Mr. Rose brought in a Bill for the regulation of Provident Institutions and Savings Banks. The provisions are as follows: these banks are to be enrolled; to have the liberty of choosing their own officers, who must give security for the money entrusted to them; in case of death or bankruptcy, these societies are to have preference over the claims of other creditors; depositors in these banks not to be prevented from applying and receiving parish relief; depositors dying intestate, distribution to be made according to a specific provision made in the bill; and the transfer of stock to these societies to be exempt from the stamp-duties.

Sir James Mackintosh moved certain resolutions on the subject of the Contributions to be paid by France for the maintenance of the British Army in that country; purporting that the Crown had exercised its prerogatives to an unwarrantable extent, by disposing of the produce of these contributions without the advice or privity of Parliament.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer apprehended that the Learned Gentleman had not properly recognized the difference between the contributions before the Treaty and those subsequent to it. The former were the issues of war, and were the right of the conquering army. He had formerly stated to the House, by the command of the Prince Regent, that the sum procured in consequence of the Treaty would be applied to the public services. That sum was nothing more nor less than an indemuity to the Nation for its expences, and as such it had been received by the Sovereign.

In consequence of this explanation, the motion was withdrawn.

Sir C. Monck moved for a Committee of Inquiry respecting the Greenwich Hospital Estates in Cumberland, Northumberland, and Durbam. He contended that the management of these estates had been

greatly abused, and that they might be rendered more beneficial to the Hospital by being sold. The expences of repairs of farm-houses, improvements, &c. in the course of five years amounted to 50,000%. while the increased rent in that period was not more than 1,1967. per annum. The gross profits of the woods belonging to the Hospital, were in eight years 21,000. and the expences for those woods, in the same period, were 30,000l. making a loss to the Hospital of 90001. (Hear, hear!)

Mr. C. Long, in opposing the motion, said that the rents had increased since 1805 from 23,000l. to 43,000l. per annum. In the same period 16,000 acres of land have been inclosed, and 10,000 acres of grass land had been converted into good arable land; 2,000 acres of young wood had also been planted; which at no distant period would make no inconsiderable addition to the rents of the Hospital.

Sir M. W. Ridley remarked, in support of the estates being sold, that the gross receipts of the estates from 1808 to 1815, were 483,3717. while the gross expences in the same time amounted to 314,5717. leaving a nett produce to the Hospital of only 160,000l.

The motion was ultimately negatived, by 93 to 34.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17.

The Marquis of Buckingham, pursuant to notice, rose to call the attention of the House to the obstruction offered to the Earl of Essex on a former day by the Military stationed in Pall Mall. He considered the conduct of the soldiers a breach of the law, which had been attributed to a want of communication between the civil and military authorities of the country. His object, under that defect, was to enable his Majesty's Ministers to carry the law into effect. The Noble Viscount (Sidmouth) who was High Steward of Westminster, and Secretary of State, and consequently bound to have the direction of the Police, had stated on a former occasion, that no communication had been made to him with respect to the employment of the military. It was plain from that statement, that there was a power above the law, and no Minister responsible for the breach of law. The Noble Marquis having deprecated the interference of Soldiers without the Civil Power, said, he should move an Address to the Prince Regent for a Copy of the Orders issued for placing the Guards in Pall Mall on the day the Noble Earl was obstructed; at the same time he should be ready to withdraw his motion, provided the Noble Viscount would give a promise that similar interruptions should not again occur. He concluded by moving an Address for the Copies of Orders, &c. &c.

Viscount

Viscount Sidmouth repeated the opinion he gave on a former debate, namely, that the Military should, in no public instance, be called out in the streets of London without the Civil Power. He also stated, that he had received the commands of the Prince Regent on the subject, by which he should be enabled in future to prevent a recurrence of the outrage complained of by the Noble Earl.

The Marquis of Buckingham, on the above representation, consented to withdraw his motion.

In the Commons, the same day, Lord Castlereagh observed, that there were some Officers who had distinguished themselves at the battle of Waterloo, but who had not yet received the thanks voted to them. As the Temple of Janus was now shut, and as the last victory obtained by our arms was so brilliant and decisive, he thought the House on such an occasion would be anxious to pay all possible honour to those to whom they had voted their thanks. Sir Lowry Cole was one of those officers to whom they had voted their thanks, but who hitherto had been prevented by circumstances from receiving them. As the House had often voted him their thanks, as he had served through out the late war against France, and as he had never personally received any thanks, he (Lord C.) thought the House would be gratified in the opportunity being seized, which the fact of that gallant officer being now a Member presented, to return such thanks to Sir L. Cole in person. (Hear.) Those thanks having been so long since voted, when the gallant officer was not a Member of that House, that circumstance might in ordinary cases be a ground for the thanks not being communicated in such marked manner; but at the end of war, which it was to be hoped would not be soon resumed, he thought the House would like that the returning of its thanks should be distinguished, by being personally given to Sir L. Cole when attending in his place on Monday next. (Hear.)

The Speaker observed, that in ordinary cases he certainly should have felt himself precluded, by the practice of the House, from pursuing the course now suggested to be adopted, in consequence of the time at which the thanks were voted; but, perceiving what was the feeling of the House, he should most cheerfully comply with the request, and return their thanks to the gallant officer in his place. (Hear.)

upon the motion of Lord Castlereagh, ordered to be entered on the Journals.

Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald moved, that the House should resolve itself into a Committee on the 7th article of the Act of Uaion, by virtue of which the present proportions between the contributions of Great Britain and Ireland should no longer continue.

Sir J.Newport said, that he never should come before that House in forma pauperis, when pleading the cause of Ireland. On the contrary, he would contend, that she was entitled to claim a reconsideration of the unfair system of contribution which was fixed for her at the Union, and the injustice of which was now unravelled by her complete bankruptcy.

Lord Castlereagh observed,that a system of identity of taxation formed the great basis of the Scotch Union; but, at the time of the Union with Ireland, the debt of Great Britain preponderated so much, that it would have been unfair to have called upon her to enter into a partnership of debts. For this reason the quota principle had been adopted on that occasion; but, as the debt of Ireland had now passed the point of proportion, it would be absurd and unjust to continue the same state of things. Since 1811, the debt had been against Ireland, instead of being in her favour; and, therefore, to delay the measure any longer must be impolitic.

Mr. Ponsonby expressed his approbation of the measure.

The resolutions were then carried. The Report of the Alien Bill was, after several divisions, brought up..

May 21.

On the motion of Mr. Brougham, a Com mittee was appointed to inquire into the state of Education in the Metropolis. From 85,000 to 90,000 children, Mr. B. stated, were left uneducated.

Mr. Birch, after premising that abuses prevailed in the Trinity Corporation, whose annual revenues, supported by a high rate on the tonnage of shipping, exceeded 174,000l. per annum, moved the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the income and expenditure of the Trinity House.

. Messrs. Barham, Smith, and Curwen, supported the motion for inquiry. Mr. Rose opposed it. Mr. Birch at length agreed to withdraw his motion for the present.

Mr. W. Elliot presented a petition from the Roman Catholics of England, praying relief from the restrictions and disabilities to which they were at present subjected by Law.

Mr. Grattan then rose to make his annual motion on the subject of Catholic Emancipation, In the course of his

speech

speech the Hon. Gentleman stated, that he had in his possession a letter from Cardinal Gaeta, written under the authority of the Pope, setting forth the terms to which his Holiness was willing to assent. It was an official document, countersigned by Dr. Poynter, a Catholic Bishop. Speaking of the oaths taken by the Catholic Bishops, this letter states, that though they alone might be sufficient to satisty the Government, yet his Holiness was willing to permit that a list of the Clergy who were candidates for the vacant Sees might be exhibited to the King's Ministers, in order that the Government, if it disliked any of them, might point out the name, in order to its being expunged. The Cardinal then goes on to say, "that, as soon as the Legislature of Great Britain shall promulgate the act of emancipation founded on these principles, his Holiness will send a Brief to all the Catholics of the United Kingdom, in which he will publish his sense of the generosity of the most powerful British Government, and exhort them to still more solid loyalty to their august King." Mr. Grattan concluded with moving that the House do, early in the next Session of Parliament, take into its serious consideration the state of the Laws affecting the Roman Catholics, with the view of adopting such conciliatory arrangements as might conduce to the peace and strength of the United Kingdom.

Sir H. Parnell seconded the motion. Gen. Mathew said, he had gone to Rome, and obtained an interview with the Pope, who had assured him that he was fully prepared to go every possible length towards this country.

Lord Castlereagh spoke at some length in support of the motion, as did Mr. Ponsonby; and Mr. Peel against it. On a division the motion was negatived, by 172 to 141.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 22.

The third reading of the Coroners' Bill was strongly opposed by the Earls of Egremont and Fitzwilliam, because, having been introduced as a Private Bill, it had not received that consideration due to a Public Bill, which it was; and Earl Egremont moved that it be read six months hence.

The Earl of Harrowby said, that the object of getting the Bill properly discussed, might be attained, by discharging the order for the third reading, and then referring it to a Committee of the whole House.

After a division in favour of the Bill, this was agreed to.

In the Commons, the same day, the third reading of the Highway Surveyors' Bill, the object of which is to appoint a surveyor of roads in each county, whose

salary is to be paid out of the rates, was opposed by Sir E. Knatchbull, Sir E. Brydges, Messrs. Cartwright, Estcourt, and others, as unnecessary, and throwing additional patronage into the hands of Magistrates. On a division the bill was thrown out, by 41 to 12.

Mr. Mellish presented a petition from certain tradesmen and shop keepers, West of Temple Bar, complaining of the institution of Bazaars, as an unjust interference with the legitimate profits of the petitioners, and praying that some legislative measures should be adopted to prevent the establishment, or check the progress, of such an evil: ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Newman concluded a prefatory speech on the subject of Tithes by moving the appointment of a Committee to take into consideration the petitions upon the table on that subject, and report their opinion whether it be expedient to enable tithe-holders to substitute pecuniary payments for tithes in kind at certain periods.

Messrs. Curwen and Brand were satisfied that the commutation of tithes would be productive of much good, and that the Clergy were quite as desirous of it as the Laity.

Mr. Smyth declared that, if tithes were abolished, it would not be practicable to provide an adequate equivalent either in value, title, security, or means of collection. He should therefore object to any proposition for depriving the Clergy and other tithe-holders of that property to which they had as much right as any freeholder had to his land.

Mr. Rose professed himself a friend to inquiry upon this subject.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, though not very sanguine in his hopes of success, yet thought that the time of the House could not be better employed than as mediators, or arbitrators, between the tithe proprietors and the occupiers of land. As however the motion was ambiguously worded, and might create considerable. alarm, he should propose as an amendment, after adopting the general terms of the motion, a conclusion to the following effect:-" That the Committee should inquire into, and report their opinion upon the expediency of enabling the proprietors of t:thes to grant ionger leases thereof under new regulations."

Sir W. Scott would give his vote for the Committee, but would oppose any attempt to substitute pecuniary payments in lieu of tithes, because it would tend to remove the Clergy from those solid and immemorial grounds of revenue by which they were rendered, in point of fact, coproprietors and co-possessors of the land.

Lord Castlereagh declared that he would not oppose the Committee, though he did

not

not think it likely to lead to any successful results.

In the conversation which followed, the reference to a Committee was generally supported, all the speakers declaring at the same time their opinion that the property of the Church should be held iviolable. The motion as amended was then agreed to.

The House afterwards went into a Committee on the subject of illicit Distillation in Ireland.

[We suspend for the present the regular Diary of Parliamentary Proceedings, (which shall be resumed in our next), in order to insert the very elegant Address of Mr. Speaker, and the Speech of the Prince Regent, at the close of the Session.] HOUSE OF LORDS, July 2.

The Prince Regent being seated upon the throne, a Message was sent for the Commons to attend, who having arrived, the Speaker (Mr. Abbot) delivered the following Address:

"May it please your Royal Highness,At the close of a laborious Session, we, his Majesty's most faithful Commons, attend upon your Royal Highness with our concluding Bill of Supply. During the course of our deliberations, we have, in obedience to your Royal Highness's commands, examined the various Treaties and Conventions which have been laid before us. We have there seen the tranquillity, of Europe re-established upon a basis of legitimate Government, by the same presiding counsels which planned the bold, provident, and comprehensive measures commenced in the negotiations at Chaumont, matured in the Congress at Vienna, and completed by the peace of Paris. We have also seen, that thewise and generous policy of the Allied Powers, in disclaiming all projects of dismembering the great and antient Monarchy of France, have been contented to adopt such precautionary measures as might effectually protect the world from a renewal of its former sufferings. And we have rejoiced more especi ally that this important charge has been confided, by common consent, to the same victorious Commander, whose triumphs. have so mainly contributed to the glory of his country, and the general happiness of mankind. In our dome tic concerns, the great and sudden transition from a state of extended warfare to our present situation, has necessarily produced many serious evils and difficulties, to which we have not failed to apply our most anxious attention. To the distresses of the Agricultural interests we have rendered such immediate relief as could be devised, hoping also that they may daily. decrease, and trusting much to the healing influence of time. For the, benefit of

commerce, and the general convenience of all ranks of his Majesty's subjects, a new Coinage has been provided; and in various ways, by positive enactments or preparatory inquiries, we have devoted much of our labours to the general improvement of the condition of the people, their relief, and their instruction. In settling our financial arrangements, the expenditure of the services of our civil and military establishments has been considered with reference to the pecuniary respurces of the year; and amongst the most important of our measures, as affecting the joint interests of Great Britain and Ireland, is the Law which we have passed for consolidating the revenues of both portions of the United Kingdom. But, Sir, in the midst of all our various and important concerns, domestie and foreign, there are none in which the Nation ever takes a deeper interest than those which regard the splendour and dignity of the Throne which reigns over us. Impressed with these sentiments, we have endeavoured, by a new arrangement of the Civil List, to se parate those revenues which are specially assigned to the support of the Royal state, placing them henceforth beyond the reach of any contingent charges, which more properly belong to other and different branches of the public service. And in the same spirit of loyal and affectionate attachment we have hailed, with heartfelt satisfaction, the auspicious marriage by which the paternal choice of your Royal Highness has gratified the universal wishes of the Nation, and has adopted in the family of our Sovereign an illustrious Prince, whose high qualities have already endeared him to the people amongst whom he has fixed the future destinies of his life. These, Sir, are the objects to which our thoughts and labours have been chiefly directed; and for completing the grants which it is our special duty and privilege to provide, we now present to your Royal Highuess a Bil, en titled, An Act for granting to his Majesty a certain sum out of the Consolida ted Fund of Great Britain, and for apply ing certain monies there mentioned for the service of the year 1816, and further appropriating the supplies granted in the Session of Parliament;' to which Bill, with all humility, we intreat his Majesty's Royal Assent."

The Royal Assent was given to the Appropriation Bul, the Bankrupt Amendment Bill, the Pillory Abolition Bili, the Regent's Canal Bill, the Gas Light Bill, Dyott's Divorce Bill, and a few other Bills. The Prince Regent then delivered the following Speech :

continuance of his Majesty's lamented indisposition. The cordial interest which you have manifested in the happy event of the marriage of my daughter the Princess Charlotte with the Prince of Saxe Cobourg, and the liberal provision which you have made for their establishment, afford an additional proof of your affectionate attachment to his Majesty's persón and family, and demand my warmest acknowledgments. I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that I have given the Royal Consent to a marriage between his Majesty's daughter the Princess Mary and the Duke of Gloucester; and I am persuaded that this event will be highly gratifying to all his Majesty's subjects. The assurances which I have received of the pacific and friendly disposition of the Powers engaged in the late war, and of their resolution to execute inviolably the terms of the treaties which I announced to you at the opening of the Session, promise the continuance of that peace so essential to the interests of all the nations of the world.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons-I thank you for the Supplies which you have granted for the service of the year; and I am sensible of the beneficial effects which may be expected to result from the salutary system of making provision for them in a way calculated to uphold public credit. The arrangements which you have adopted for discharging the incumbrances of the Civil List, and for rendering its future income adequate to its expenditure, by relieving it from a part of the charge to which it was subject, are in the highest degree gratifying and satisfactory to me; and you may be as

sured that nothing shall be wanting on my part to give full effect to those arrangements. The provision you have made for consolidating the Revenues of Great Britain and Ireland, will, I doubt not, be productive of the happiest consequences in cementing and advancing the interests of the United Kingdom; and must afford an additional proof of the constant disposition of Parliament to relieve the difficulties and promote the welfare of Ireland.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,-The measures to which I have been under the uecessity of resorting, for the suppression of those tumults and disorders which had unfortunately occurred in some parts of the kingdom, have been productive of the most salutary effects. I deeply lament the continuance of that pressure and distress which the circumstances of the country, at the close of so long a war, have unavoidably entailed on many classes of his Majesty's subjects. I feel fully persuaded, however, that after the many severe trials which they have undergone in the course of the arduous contest in which we have been engaged, and the ultimate success which has attended their glorious and persevering exertions, I may rely with perfect confidence on their publie spirit and fortitude in sustaining those difficulties which will, I trust, be found to have arisen from causes of a temporary nature, and which cannot fail to be materially relieved by the progressive improvement of public credit, and by the reduction which has already taken place in the burthens of the people."

FRANCE.

The period of the imprisonment of Sir Robert Wilson, Captain Hutchinson, and Mr. Bruce, having expired, these gentlemen have been set at liberty. Captain Hutchinson immediately left Paris to rejoin his regiment, and the other two gentlemen may be expected in England within a week.

A curious Ordinance has appeared in France, which tends to show the very different notions of liberty that exist in that country and in England. Many of the Deputies, by their patriotic and loyal conduct, having obtained the applause and admiration of their constituents, who thought fit to testify their esteem by various honorary presents, such as a piece of plate, a sword, or the like, while the ministerial members have not been very fortunate in obtaining these marks of public esteem; a Decree has been promulgated,

prohibiting any such presents being received in fnture, without the King's consent previously obtained.

The French papers describe the enthusiastic manner in which the new Duchess of Berri was received in her progress to the capital. The King, and the whole of the Bourbon family, met the Princess at Fontainbleau, and the whole entered Paris in grand procession, on Sunday, the 16th ult. The marriage was celebrated at the church of Notre Dame on the following day. At eleven in the morning, the legal formalities being executed in the King's closet, at the Thuilleries, at half-past eleven the Royal Pair set out for the church, which was filled with a brilliant assemblage so early as ten o'clock. The ceremony was performed in the presence of the King, Monsieur, and the Duke and Duchess of Angouleme ; at the conclusion of which the procession returned from the church