should be referred to the consideration of tract, or indenture, binding themselves to the said committee, in order to make a serve a kind of second apprenticeship, ou report thereon. In bringing forward this the terms prescribed by the masters. The business, the hon. member was glad to see difference between the wages of an apthe right hon. the chancellor of the exche-prentice and a journeyman was, he observquer in his place, as he was led to believe ed, from 4s. and 7s. to 24s. and 50s. per that that right hon. gent, was not unfriend-week. Of course the masters were naly to the object of the petitioners; but, on turally disposed to prefer the former. It the contrary, rather disposed to accelerate was, however, incumbent on those to whom their relief, and to render them complete the duty of legislative arrangement belongjustice. The knowledge of this circum-ed, to consider fairly the interests of all stance without doors would, he hoped, classes. And the interest of the master have the effect of urging the masters in was not, surely, entitled to such a preferthe calico printing trade to accede to that ence as should put that of the journeyman amicable adjustment with the journeymen, entirely out of view. But with respect to which had been so strongly recommended the interest of the community; the value by an hon. friend of his (Mr. Sheridan) of any article of manufacture was to be about the close of the last session. It was estimated in a great measure with refervery much to be regretted that such an ence to the price of labour. Now, as the adjustment had not taken place, and the calico printers sold their goods at a price, disinclination of the masters to consent to founded on the rate of wages at 30s. per it, rendered it indispensably necessary to week, although they obtained persons to the cause of justice, that some legislative work at 4s. and 7s. it struck his mind that proceeding should be adopted. He had they had more profit than they were justly consulted with the chairman of the com- entitled to. For the fact was, that almittee which sat last sessions, and it was though the journeymen were deprived of his opinion, with that of many other mem- their subsistence, to make way for the embers of that committee, that it was highly ployment of boys, and thus to reduce the proper that something decided should be expence of manufacture, no reduction done. The question for consideration, as whatever took place in consequence of the it struck him, was this, whether the or-price of the article to the public. All the dinary and established relation between profit was confined to the master, none masters and journeymen in the other me- whatever was given to the consumer. It chanical professions should exist in the really appeared to him, that such a case trade of the calico printers. At present no formed a fit subject for taxation, and ought such relation did exist. All the advan- to be made productive to the revenue. The tages of the system of apprenticeship were, hon. member concluded with submitting in this trade, on the side of the masters, his motion. which, the moment an apprenticeship expired, the person who served it was likely to be thrown out of bread, without even the chance of future employment. It was, he contended, one of the first duties of a good government, particularly in a trading country, to attend to a case of this nature. While the system of apprenticeships went on, it was surely unfair that it should operate altogether in favour of one of the contracting parties; the one devoting so many years of his life to qualify himself to work as a journeyman at a trade, from the opportunity of employment at which the master excludes him, by the extreme and successive multiplication of apprentices. In consequence of this practice, there were at present some thousands of journeymen calico printers out of work; the greater part of whom are refused employment, unless they consent to sign a second con

Mr. Rose was ready to admit the importance of this question, and was fully inclined to give the utmost attention to the prayer of the petitioners. Their case, he was well assured, was deserving of consideration. But from the knowledge he had of a similar business in the course of the two last sessions, he was much afraid that the subject was too complicated to be gone into at the present advanced period of the session; that it could not be disposed of in one or two days, as the hon. mover seemed to imagine, nor in so many weeks.. He therefore submitted to the hon. gent. whether it would not be better to postpone the matter till the next session, when, as carly as he chose to bring it forward, he (Mr. Rose) should be ready to give him any assistance in his power.-Mr. Egertou and Mr. Lascelles thought the case of the petitioners highly deserving of atten

tion, but concurred with the right hon. gent, who spoke last, that it was too late in the session at present to give it all the consideration that was due to it.

mitted to the consideration of the house with as little delay as possible.

Mr. Whitbread declared, that it would be. his personal wish to bring the motion forMr. P. Moore expressed his unwillingness ward as soon as possible; but when it was to press the subject at present. He wished considered that many members would go and hoped that ministers would take up out of town for the holidays, and would the case of the petitioners, and have jus-not see the report till Wednesday next, he tice done to them. They could hardly thought it would be too much to ask them select a case where the exertion of their to discuss it the following day. Many would influence would do them more honour. wish to read the whole report before they The petitioners he felt to be treated with felt prepared to give an opinion on any part great injustice, and he trusted that the gen- of the subject; he must therefore adhere tlemen who professed a disposition to at- to his intention of bringing forward the motend to their claims, would give him their tion of impeachment on Tuesday se'nnight, assistance next session, when, at an early and as soon as that question was disposed period, he pledged himself to bring the of, he should be ready without delay to prosubject before the house. The hon. mem-ceed with the resolutions respecting the ber, with leave of the house, withdrew chancellor of the exchequer. his motion.

Mr. Canning said, the matters which were [IMPEACHMENT OF LORD MELVILLE.] to be made the grounds of charge against Mr. Whitbread said, that when he had his right hon. friend the chancellor of the given notice of a motion arising out of the exchequer must be known, and any memtenth report, for Thursday next, it was ber of the committee was competent to on the supposition that the report of the say, whether what related to the conduct select committee might have been printed of his right hon. friend was capable of beby this day, and that members would con- ing considered first. He wished some other sequently have sufficient time to take it member of the committee besides the hon. into consideration. As he was now in-gent. (Mr. Whitbread) to say whether formed that it could not be printed till Sa- that part of the report could be separated turday, he was under the necessity of from the general matter. If it could be postponing his motion. As he understood separated, and if it could be clearly underMonday se'nnight would, not be a conve- stood in this distinct form, he saw no reanient day, he should now fix Tuesday se'n-son why any member of the committee night for the motion of which he had given might not move that it be taken into connotice. sideration on Thursday..

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, he Mr. H. Lascelles stated, that the general understood the notice which the hon. matter of the report related to lord Melmember had given, embraced two objects: ville and Mr. Trotter. The part which rethe first was the impeachment of lord Mel-lated to the right hon. gent, the chancellor ville; the second, certain resolutions which of the exchequer, was distinct. There he intended to move against him.. As to were only three points that could be made the first object, it was possible that the the ground of resolutions against the right grounds which the hon. member might take, hon. gent.: the application of the 40,0001. would be so connected with the volumin- the conversations with Mr. Raikes, and the ous matter of the report, that it might be affair of Jellicoe. These points were plain absolutely necessary to allow members time and distinct, and required no delay for to read and consider the whole; but, if the the consideration of them, at the same time second object of his notice, the resolutions that it was most important that the sense which were to be moved against him per- of the house upon them should be speedily sonally, did not depend upon so many cir- pronounced. If no other member of the cumstances, but laid in a narrow compass, committee, thought there was reason for he hoped it might be possible to bring them delay, he thought the matter ought to be forward on the day first appointed. It proceeded on without delay; and if no certainly was not for him to name any par- other was disposed to move that the points ticular day that must be in the breast of he had referred to be taken into considerawhoever should bring the motion forward, tion at the earliest period, he should but he felt very desirous, that whatever Mr. Whitbread said, if the hon. gent. related to him personally, should be sub-did what he proposed, he believed he would

Mr. For would not say that it was not

think proper so to do, to give a notice for the anticipation of that of another. It was, however, a matter of delicacy, subject to that discretion which was usually exercised on every such occasion.

[STIPENDIARY CURATES' BILL.] The

Mr. Barham opposed the motion. He thought it a bill that took away part of the property of the rector, although the duty was performed. If the duty were not performed, he might see some reason for the measure. The bill was at variance with existing statutes, and at variance with its own enactments. If the property of the

do that which was wholly without pre- could meet after the discussion of the first cedent. When one member gave a notice of part. a motion, it would be very extraordinary indeed that another should take the busi-competent to any member, who should ness out of his hands, merely because he might wish it to be decided upon a day or two sooner. It would be for the house to consider whether any thing resulting from the papers could be judged of before the papers were fully considered, and whether the papers could be fully considered in any Attorney-General moved the third reading time short of that he proposed. Unques- of the Stipendiary Curates' bill. tionably the members of the committee had the means of forming distinct opinions without this delay; and it was as a member of the committee he had the means of forming the opinion on which he had given his notice. But that was not a reason for calling on the house to pronounce without consideration on what the members of the committee were already perfectly acquaint-church was to be attacked, let it be ated with. The committee, as a body, had not agreed to propose any proceedings on the report. If the committee had been of opinion to institute such proceedings, the chairman would have been instructed accordingly. He had asked the chairman, whether he meant to submit any motion to the house; and it was on being informed the church. Not only the ecclesiastical, that the chairman had no such intention, that he formed the determination of bringing forward the ineasure of which he had given notice. He again represented the extraordinary proceeding of the hon. gent. in taking the matter out of his hands merely because he wished the business to be considered a day or two earlier., The papers would not be ready before Saturday evening. Many gentlemen would have left town before that day for the holidays, and would not, of course, have the papers in their hands before Wednesday. He thought the day he mentioned sufficiently early, and he adhered to the order he had laid down.

Mr. H. Lascelles hoped that he was not disorderly in the notice he had given, as he assured the house that nothing was farther from his intention than to be guilty of any irregularity.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked, whether the hon. gent. meant to bring forward both motions on the same day? He thought the hon. gent, could hardly expect the house to decide so summarily.

tacked directly and openly, and not indirectly and in disguise. He was one who wished the church supported by the state, believing our church to be upon the whole the purest church in Christendom. But the present bill tended to vitiate the constitution, and subvert the establishment of

but political power it conferred on the bishops was alarming. It gave opportunities for their interfering in elections, which, from cases easily to be remembered, might be much and very grievously abused. On the other hand, it shook to the base the foundation of all ecclesiastical property. The tenure of such property would, after the passing of this bill, should it pass, be totally changed. The scale of appropriation did not measure income by the necessities of the curate, but by the opulence of the living. What, under the circumstances, he should have thought, and did think, most desirable, was, to have moved for a committee to. examine into the statutes bearing on the subject, and generally to consider of the best mode of regulating the interests of the curates, and others affected by the present question.

Mr. Alexander was decidedly inimical to the measure. Ever since the commencement of the French revolution, church property was rendered insecure, by new doctrines. The present bill partook of the character of the revolutionary edicts of the Mr. Whitbread said, he had meant merely French Jacobins. Church property was unthat there would be no delay on his part. settled by such laws. The king and parHe would be ready to submit his se-liament ought to resist innovation in the cond propositions as soon as the house rights of property with regard to the church.

He

Mr. Fuller knew that in the county off away, the other side would have denounced Sussex, which he had the honour to repre-such language as unwarrantable, and unsent, the clergy had not had time to make constitutional. He thought the bill unup their minds as to the bill. He there-principled, incoherent, and wicked. fore, if seconded, should press that the bill should not be read a third time till this day six months.

moved an amendment, that this bill be read a third time this day three months.

took shame to himself for nothing so much as that he did not introduce it before.-The house then divided; for the original motion 38; for the amendment 17; majority for the bill 21.-The bill was accordingly read a third time, and after some verbal amendments, passed, and sent to the lords.

The Attorney-General defended the meaMr. Deverell thought the measure both sure, but would not go over a ground of arpremature and imperfect. He should not gument which had been previously so much have opposed it if it had thrown the church contested. He insisted that there was noproperty into a mass, and proposed to ap-thing new in the principle of the bill, and point a vicar-general of church revenues, who should distribute incomes to the curates as they might be worthy. At present it was a bill to enlarge and extend the patronage of the bishop. If it was for the good of the public, he should not object; but when it was a bill empowering the bishops to raise the incomes of the curates to 2501.—Adjourned. or 1501. a year, it was a bill of mere diocesan patronage. As far as it changed the usage of the law of the land, it was still more objectionable. No appeal laid, but to the quarter sessions, or the archbishop in Londou. It took away the ordinary option of the common law. For all these reasons he thought the measure ought to be postponed.

rectors.

Mr. I. H. Browne supported the bill. It went no farther than other statutes, except in as far as related to livings above 4001. a year. The objection to this law would be a good objection to all other laws.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Friday, May 31.

[CONDUCT OF JUDGE FOX.] The order of the day being read, for the house to resolve itself into a committee on the matters respecting Mr. judge Fox; that venerable person, accompanied by his Mr. Graham had so great an objection to counsel, Mr. Adam and Mr. Nolan, imthe bill, that he would support the amend-mediately entered the house, where Mr. ment. The bill placed the clergy in a justice Fox was placed in a chair below the worse situation than any other of his ma-bar, habited in his judicial robes. Mr. jesty's subjects. It was a bill to enforce Adam, as soon as the charges contained in the residence of curates, but to banish the the address were read at the table, requested permission to offer a few observations to their lordships, on the part of his learned client. He adverted to the peculiar situation in which the learned judge was placed, a state of accusation before the highest and most august tribunal in the in-country; a proceeding, forming a case of the greatest importance in itself, and still more important from its perfect novelty, and the consideration of its going to form a precedent for future ages. He then adverted to the whole course of the proLord Porchester went over the grounds ceedings, from the period of their having of his former arguments against the mea- first been instituted, by the first petition sure. He thought the measure founded on presented by a noble marquis, exactly that the antient jacobin principle. The worst day twelvemonth to the present moment. reform and innovation would be, if it were He alluded to the alterations which had attempted to reform the church on those been made from time to time in the matprinciples so exploded by gentlemen over ters of charge; which were not only, to a against him on former occasions; yet these certain extent, new modelled, but had even were the very principles now set up in this new matter, and such very recently added bill. If the gentlemen of opposition had said, to them. There had been new facts introin 1794 or 1795, that the church revenues duced, he said, and charged in a different were salaries, mere properties, which the way. The learned counsel then proceeded public gave, and the publie might take to advert to the proceedings upon the case,

Mr. Pole Carew thought the measure complete. It ought to have been devised so as to embrace the subject of great ecclesiastical bodies, that did not give more than from 201. to 501. a year, though their

revenues were enormous.

in the out-doors committee of their lord- discussion, would not offer an opinion upships; a proceeding instituted from the on the general case; yet it struck him as best and purest motives; but, in this their unobjectionable, and as a matter of justice, lordships were placed, he observed, in the that the request made on the part of the situation of a grand jury. The proceed- learned judge should be complied with. ings, in a certain point of view, may be He saw no difficulty in point of form; but regarded as ex parte; and he adverted to the even if some did prevail, it should yield advantages which would accrue to the ac- to the more important dictates of justice; cusing parties, against his learned client, they should endeavour, as far as possible, were he not admitted to the knowledge of to place the accuser and the accused on a those proceedings. What he should have footing of perfect equality. The previous humbly to request of their lordships was, committee was instituted on the best that his learned client should be furnished grounds, and in one point of view was with a copy of those proceedings, of which meant as a check against persons in the he was necessarily in the dark. The no-important station of the learned judge, bevelty of the case added to its extreme ing lightly called upon to answer for their importance; and though no precedent ob- conduct before that house. The request tained to guide their lordships' proceed-appeared to him a matter of justice; but ings, yet, in such a case, he submitted, that even were it to be considered as a matter of the dictates of the common law, and the favour, whatever favour prevailed, should custom of judicial proceedings, should be be preferable for the accused. To bring allowed to furnish some light. He expa- the question regularly before the committiated upon the distinct nature of grand tee, his lordship moved, that the chairand petit juries; of those who were to find man be instructed to move the house, the accusation, and those who were to try "that the committee appointed to investhe issue. Publicity was one of the essen-tigate the matter alledged in charge against tial attributes of justice. After most ably Mr. justice Fox be revived; that they may adverting to the circumstances of the case, report to the house what evidence was and dwelling upon points calculated to il-given thereon, in order that the same may lustrate and enforce it, the learned counsel concluded an eloquent and energetic speech, by submitting a request to the above effect, on the part of his learned client, who, he said, was prepared with a petition, if such was judged necessary by their lordships, for the purpose.

The Lord Chancellor then moved, that the counsel be ordered to withdraw; which having taken place, his lordship made a variety of observations on the proceeding which had just taken place; and on part of what had fallen from the counsel. As to the proceeding requested on the part of the learned judge, it appeared to him only to involve a question of form. Among other points, he alluded to what had been advanced respecting the changes made in the matters of charge; these, he observed, might be made on various grounds, founded in the wisdom or discretion of those noble lords, who were engaged in the discussion, or who had brought the motion forward; the propriety, therefore, of advancing, that such had taken place, on any particular grounds, which any person may take for granted, he considered as very questionable.

Lord Grenville, when he considered the perfect novelty of what was then under

be communicated to Mr. justice Fox."

Lord Hawkesbury entertained no serious objection to complying with what was proposed. He, however, in adverting to the mode in which the proposition was made, supported the observations of his noble and learned friend on that part of the subject. He vindicated the proceedings which had hitherto obtained, from which the accusing parties had derived no advantage, but what, from the inherent nature of the case, was absolutely unavoidable.

Lord Auckland considered what had been proposed, as proper, just, and necessary. He had foreseen that such a proposition would be made. The previous investigation, in the out-doors committee, which was instituted for the advantage of the accused, would, if the present request was not complied with, operate as an engine of injustice against him. In support of these conclusions, his lordship adverted to some details of the proceeding. He thought the motion of the noble baron a good one; . but still, were it amended by the omission of that part which mentions, "for the purpose of the same being communicated to Mr. justice Fox," it would be perfectly unobjectionable.

Lord Mulgrave, in delivering his senti