HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, JULY 13.

The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Lottery Bill, Corn Distillation Prohibition Bill, Soldiers Wives' Bill, Regent's Canal Bill, and English Local Militia Bill. Commissioners, Lords Eldon, Walsingham, and Cholmondeley.

EX-OFFICIO INFORMATIONS.

The Earl of Moira rose to request it as a personal obligation to himself if he might so put it-of his noble friend (Lord Holland), that he would allow the discussion of Mr. Palmer's claim to-morrow, to take precedence of his motion on the subject of Ex-Officio Informations.

Lord Holland could not refuse to accede to the request of his noble friend, though the consequence must be, that he must postpone his motion still farther, as it was not likely he could bring it on after the disposal of the question of Mr. Palmer's claims. He could not fix any particular day at present for bringing it on, until he consulted some noble friends of his. He could not, however, help feeling regret at being obliged thus to postpone his motion, the importance of which was becoming every day more apparent. Intelligence which reached him this very day, of certain proceedings in Ireland, impressed upon his mind, still more deeply, the necessity of some regulation to check this discretionary power of the Attorney-General, which, in its abuse, was the most dangerous that could be conceived.

Earl Grey expressed his very serious regret that the motion of his noble friend was to be postponed, as he could not possibly attend their lordships' House after to-morrow. Not that he thought he could be of much use to his noble friend, in the very laudable and important purpose in which he was engaged, but it was a matter of personal regret to himself, that he could not be present so as to record, by his vote, his most perfect concurrence in the principle and object of his noble friend's motion. This discretionary power, in an officer of Government, might be perverted to the most dangerous purposes. A Government, weak in itself, and having no hopes of resting itself upon the favour VOL. 111.-1812. 4 F

and affection of a grateful people, would naturally endea vour to shelter itself by preventing free discussion; and for that end, this power of filing Ex-Officio Informations was a most admirable instrument. He had this day heard, that in Ireland a prosecution had been commenced by the Attorney-General, where there ought to be no prosecution at all; or, if there existed any ground for prosecution, it ought to have been done in a very different manner. An individual had published a pamphlet on the subject of the penal laws against the Catholics; a perfectly fair subject of discussion; and which, if there was any thing objectionable in it, ought to have been met by a contrary statement. But instead of this, a prosecution was resorted to, and in a mode which, as far as he could learn, was altogether unprecedented. The Attorney-General had sent a notice to the printer of the pamphlet in question, in the nature of a summons, to attend him at his own house, and there shew cause to him, the Attorney-General, why a criminal information should not be filed against him. He had consulted several in regard to this proceeding, and all had declared that such a thing was utterly unknown to them in the course of their experience. He was sorry to find that a system of conciliation, such as, perhaps, might have been expected from the recent resolution of the House of Commons against the Catholics, was not to be adopted. He could not let slip this oppottunity of making these few observations, and declaring his most perfect concurrence in the object of his noble friend, since he could not be enabled to do so when the motion should be brought forward.

LOCAL TOKENS.

The Local Tokens Bill was committed.

The Earl of Lauderdale called their lordships' attention to one of the clauses in the Bill, by which, in case any one should unfortunately have white letters engraven on paper with a sable ground, they were liable to be transported to Botany Bay for 14 years. This was going a great deal too far; besides, he did not see why the Bank of England alone was to have this security. They ought to legislate for the public, and not for the Bank of England.

The Earl of Liverpool said, that they were legislating for the public, for as it was incumbent on the people to take the Bank of England notes, it was necessary that these notes particularly should be guarded against forgery; and as to

the observation in regard to transportation, it was obvious that the law did not include such as could shew that they came by such pieces of paper innocently.

The Earl of Lauderdale next objected to the word Coin, as applied to Bank Dollars, and asked whether it was really their intention that the prerogative of the Crown, in respect of coining, should be transferred to the Bank of England 2 The Earl of Liverpool agreed to substitute the word "Token,' instead of "Coin."'

After a few words from Lords Lauderdale and Ross, the Bill passed through the Committee.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCE REGENT.

The Earl of Liverpool brought down the usual Message in regard to the Vote of Credit, which was ordered to be taken into consideration on Wednesday.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Lord Redesdale brought up the Report of the Justice Administration Bill, and stated the object of it to be, to give further assistance to the Lord Chancellor in the Court of Chancery, so as to enable him to apply more of his time to the hearing of appeals in that House; the business of the Court of Chancery had so greatly increased.

The Lord Chancellor adverted to the various duties he had to perform, and to the time necessarily required to discharge them. It was impossible for any man to do the business without further assistance. In regard to himself, he was not to be driven out of the situation by imputations of his being the cause of the delay, while he was satisfied he could be useful. He said that the Master of the Rolls was one of the best Judges that ever existed, but it was impossible for them both to go through the business and also attend to their other duties. The Master of the Rolls was often employed in hearing appeals from the Plantations, and in Prize causes. He felt that injustice had been done. to him in regard to the arrears of business in Chancery and in that House.

The Report was then received.-Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

MONDAY, JULY 13.

A number of Petitions from different places were presented by various Members against the Nightly Watch Bill, all of which were ordered to lie on the table.

After a few words from Mr. Wharton and Mr. Patteson, on the Malt Regulation Bill, in which Mr. Patteson recommended 66 hours for the time of steeping, which was at last fixed at 55 hours. He did not expect much good from the Bill, but thought it would be better to increase the salaries of the Excise Officers, to secure them against the great temptations they were exposed to by fraudulent dealers.-The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

The Army Prize Money Bill, and the Life Annuity Bill, were read a third time and passed.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCE REGENT.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought down the following Message:

"G. P. R.-The Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, considering the very great importance of affairs, and the necessity of providing for such emergencies as may arise, and relying on the zeal and affectionate experience of his faithful Commons, recommends to the House to take such measures as may tend to disappoint and defeat the enterprises and designs of the enemy, and as the exigencies of affairs may require."

The Message was ordered to be taken into consideration to-morrow.

The Report of the Stone Bottle Duty Bill was brought up and agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.

TRIVY PURSE.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable the Keeper of the Privy Purse to transfer certain property of his Majesty, vested in the Public Funds. The object of the Bill was to authorise the Commissioners to distribute certain portions of the money allotted to the Privy Purse, in the manner conformable with the Royal inclination.

After some few observations from Mr. Tierney, Mr. Simeon, Mr. Brougham, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, leave was given to bring in the Bill.

MR. FITZPATRICK.

Mr. Sheridan rose to put a question to the noble lord (Castlereagh) respecting a prosecution carrying on against a Printer in Ireland, named Fitzpatrick, for publishing a pamphlet called "A Statement of Facts respecting the Roman Catholics." He wished to know whether the prosecution was authorised by the English Government, or had been instituted by the Crown Lawyers in Ireland? He asked this in the absence of the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Pole) who had tendered his resignation. He thought it necessary to be known where the responsibility for advising such a prosecution rested. After all that had been said about the necessity for conciliation, he did not expect such a prosecution could be countenanced by the Government. There might be libellous matter in the pamphlet, but when the penal laws remained still unrepealed, it was not extraordinary that the Catholics should wish to know the extent and amount of those laws. He understood the pamphlet was the work of a learned gentleman in Ireland. He hoped he should be allowed to move for a copy of the Notice of Prosecution given to Mr. Fitzpatrick, by the Crown Solicitors, for his appearance at the house of Mr. Saurin, the Attorney-General. The right hon. gentleman then moved accordingly.

Lord Castlereagh wished the right hon. gentleman to give notice of his motion, as he was quite uninformed upon the subject; and in the absence of his right hon. friend (Mr. Pole), it would surely not be the wish of the right hon. gentleman to press it.

Mr. Sheridan consented to postpone the motion till to

morrow.

MR. PALMER'S CLAIMS.

Colonel Palmer stated, that some misapprehension had gone forth respecting the liability of Mr. Palmer to pay the Property Tax, under the Bill granting him compensation for his services. He had the fullest authority to state, that should there be any doubt of his liability, he could bring in a Bill to remove such doubt, as Mr. Palmer had no wish to shrink from the payment of the tax.

PEACE PRESERVATION BILL.

Lord Castlereagh moved the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill.