6,400,0001. of which only 2,458,0001. stances of palliation which attended the

I had actually been sent out of the country. situation in which the governments of The South American governments had all those states were placed, nor could he along shewn every disposition to do forget the part which this country bore in what was fair and just. They had, it their liberation. He concluded by moving, was true, made a hard bargain for them for an account of the official value of all selves; but, then they said, “this has been exports of every denomination of British made by our authorised agents, we are and Colonial produce, to the States of therefore, bound by it.” The reproach to South America, during the last seven the people of South America, that they years ; also of the imports from the same had failed in their pecuniary engagements, places. was one which they shared in common Mr. C. Grant said, he would very readily with many of the most distinguished accede to the motion, at the same time he amongst the European states. France feared there might be some difficulty in had become bankrupt, Austria had making out all the returns called for. As been three times a bankrupt; as far as to the remarks with which his gallant making three several compositions with friend had accompanied that motion, they England could make her so. Even we did full justice to the object of it. ourselves had been obliged to suspend cash The motion was agreed to. payments; and, therefore, so far as foreign countries were concerned, we must be FOREIGN TRADE--IMPORTS FOR Home regarded in the light of bankrupts. It CONSUMPTION.) Sir Henry Parnell rose was not, besides, matter of surprise that for the purpose of moving for several acthose countries should at the present counts respecting the Foreign Trade of the moment find themselves in circumstances United Kingdom. The first account was siof embarrassment, seeing that they were milar to an account that was laid on the table exposed to the contention of rival chiefs, of the House in the last session, on a moand to the miseries of internal discord; tion that he had made : it was an account but of this he felt perfectly assured, that of the importation of a great number of arwhatever might be ihe opinion entertained ticles of foreign manufactures, and raw of the skill and discretion with which they materials, in the years 1824 and 1826. managed their financial concerns, there These years were taken, because it was in could not be the slightest suspicion that the year 1825 that the customs duties were they at any time contemplated a fraud as altered with the professed design of estarespected the people of this country. He blishing a free trade--and therefore, a knew that general Bolivar was, at the comparison of the importations of 1824 present moment, doing all in his power to with those of 1826, would show the prachave a portion of the revenues set apart for tical effect of the alteration of the duties, the purpose of liquidating these debts. and of what is called the Free-trade SysThis, though it was all that, under present tem. The account he now proposed to circumstances, could be done, formed no move for was of the importations of 1824, excuse, he was ready to admit, for the 1826, and 1827, for the purpose of showpast. He did not hold the people of ing what the effect of the alteration of the South America to have been criminal in duties had been in 1827. The account their pecuniary transactions, but they were which was presented last year proved that culpable in not coming fairly before their the prediction which he had made in 1825, creditors, and declaring their inability to of the effect of the new systein, was well pay. Had they done this, they would founded ; namely that no considerable inhave put an end to the speculations of creased importation of foreign manufacbulls and bears, and have saved the holders tures would take place, because the new of their securities from a great deal of duties had been fixed so high as to be loss and a great deal of misery. He prohibitory duties. In point of fact there thought also, that the government of this was no other progress made in introduccountry ought to exert its influence, for ing free trade, except the changing a systhe purpose of effecting the payment of tem of absolute prohibition into a system such British subjects as were creditors of of prohibitory duties. The country, therethe South American governments. But fore, still suffers all the injury that belongs though entertaining the feelings which he to a system of restriction and protection. did, he could not lose sight of the circum- | The immediate evil of this system is the

of grand and petty juries. It had been a pack : being ls. 6d. on the ace of found necessary, therefore, to suspend the spades, 6d. on the wrapper, and 6d. on system pursued in this country, and pro- the label. These duties on the wrapper vide a jury of a peculiar description, suited and label were intended to prevent the to the nature of the population. This sale of second-hand cards. But he could suspension of the English system he in- see no reason why persons who paid 2s. tended, in the new bill, to continue, but 6d. a pack on articles whose manufacto make provisions that would gradually, tured value was only 1s. 60. should be should circumstances permit it, assimilate prevented from selling them again? the administration of justice in the colony his doubts of the justice of these duties to that of England. The colonies were were confirmed by the fact, that though not in a situation to admit of thus re- they were increased from time to time, ceiving a legislative assembly, but on the the revenue arising from them did not in plan pursued with respect to Canada, be- crease in proportion. The revenue was fore it had a legislative assembly, he defrauded of the duties by various means : proposed that they should have a legisla- first, by servants selling second-hand cards, tive council, to be composed of twelve or which were re-sold as new, without paying fifteen persons, who would be entitled to duty; then, by a practice among some vote on all matters connected with their manufacturers, of getting cards stamped as expenditure, and, indeed, concerning their for exportation, and afterwards selling affairs generally. This would lead the them in this country duty free, under the way in time to the establishment of insti- cover of that stamp, thus fraudulently obtutions in those colonies similar to those tained. Another way of defrauding the of the people from whom the inhabitants revenue of the duty on cards, was the cussprung.

tom in foreign countries of forging the EngLeave was given to bring in the bill. lish stamp, and smuggling them into this

country, and selling them at a lower price HOUSE OF COMMONS.

than the regularly-stamped cards could be

sold at. These various frauds lessened Wednesday, April 2.

the revenue, injured the fair manufacturer STAMPS ON CARDS AND Dice.] The of cards, and corrupted the morals of the House resolved itself into a Committee on people. To prevent which, he thought the the Acts regulating the Stamp Duties upon best plan was to remove the temptations to Cards and Dice,

fraud, by reducing the duty on cards. Mr. G. Dawson said, that in submitting Sir J. Newport had no objection to the certain resolutions to the committee, for measure proposed, though he could not the repeal of the duty on cards and dice, help thinking that while the enormous he was induced to take that course from a duties on fire insurance existed, the article conviction that the duties on those articles of cards was an odd one to make the subwere too severe, and gave rise to much ject of an experiment in the way of a mofraud in the manufacture and sale of the dification of duties; nor could he see how articles in question. His object would be

an encouragement to a more general use to repeal the existing acts, with a view to of cards was calculated to protect the moa reduction of the duties. His motives rals of the people. were, a desire to take away the existing Mr. Hume hailed the measure as a sign temptations to fraud, to simplify the du- of the approaching prevalence of sound ties, and to prevent, by the proposed re- principles. As to the effect of this repeal duction, the surreptitious importation of of duties on the public morals, would it foreign cards, and the sale of home-made not remove the temptations to smuggling second-hand cards in the shops. The pre- and forging? The measure was an excelsent acts on the subject were found insuf- lent one, and he hoped to see the governficient to protect the public revenue or the ment extending the principle of it to other public morals. The result of the duties articles that were subject to high duties, was a fraudulent evasion of the law. In He had no doubt there were establishments the reign of queen Anne, the first duty, all along the coast opposite England, for 6d. a pack, was imposed on cards. In the the express manufacture of every article reign of George Ist it was increased to that was subject to high duty in this coun1s. ; in George 2nd to 1s. 6d.; in 1792 it try. But those foreign manufacturers was raised to 25.; and in 1802 to 2s. 6d. were not to be blamed, but the govern

a

ment which could enforce laws so extrava- | turned who might have no legal claim. gant, that they seemed as if made for the He therefore proposed, in order to remedy purpose of being broken.

this defect, that in all cases any persons The resolutions were agreed to. claiming the right of voting should be ad

mitted as collateral parties. He had HOUSE OF COMMONS.

heard of bargains being made on this sub

ject, and compromises entered into. A Thursday, April 3.

committee, too, of last session-of which ControVERTED ELECTION Laws.] he had no wish to speak but in terms of Mr. Wynn said, that, in rising to move for respect- had thought themselves justified, leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and without hearing a syllable of evidence, to amend the laws on the subject of Contro- seat the petitioner, because the sitting verted Elections, he felt it necessary to member said he would not defend his seat. offer a few observations. The House It was necessary that compromises beknew, that it was now fifty-eight years tween the sitting member and the petisince a Select Committee had been ap- tioner, and this consequence of the sitting pointed to inquire into those laws, and member refusing to defend, should be that since that period ten acts of parlia- both prevented. He now came to the ment had been passed on the subject. It mode in which these committees were apwas his wish to consolidate all these acts pointed. The House was aware that at into one. He had prepared the bill, and present the number of names directed to would state shortly to the House the ma- be struck was forty-nine. He thought it terial alterations which it was the object quite unnecessary that so large a number of that bill to make in the present laws. should be struck, in the first instance. In the first place, great difficulty and in- His intention was to assimilate these comconvenience had arisen from that part of mittees as much as possible to the nature the law which rendered it necessary that, of juries. Looking at the original bill, he on the presentment of petitions, the par- found that it gave the power of striking ties should enter into two recognizances ; off the names of members on cause being the one, to prosecute the petition, and the assigned ; but the House had found the other to defray the expenses of its prose- exercise of this power to be most invicution. It was clear that only one of dious. It seemed to him that it would be these could be necessary; and it was his wish sufficient to draw only three times as therefore to remove the other. It repeatedly many names, in the first instance, as happened under the present laws, that the would be required, and from them to very day before the trial of a contro- strike off only a complete jury. He verted election was to come on, when the thought that the number of which these petitioning party had made all the neces- committees were at present composed sary preparations, summoned his witnesses, might be reduced from fifteen to eleven, to and brought them to town at a consider- be selected from the thirty-three names able expense, the sitting member declined which he assumed to be sufficient to be to defend his seat. Hence arose a new struck in the first instance.-As to the delay of thirty days, and the witnesses matter of nominees, he had reason to were sent back to the country. It was think that the House did not originally his intention to give the sitting member intend that they should be as they now fourteen days to decide whether he would were. It was well known that hon. memdefend his seat; and in the event of his bers upon being appointed nominees had not declaring his intention within fourteen enlisted themselves among the contending days after the presentment of the peti- parties. He regretted to say that this had tion, to make him liable for the costs happened in many instances. The arguthat might have been incurred. He did ment urged in favour of the appointment not think that this, which was merely an of nominees was, that the responsible act of justice to the petitioner, could be situation in which they were placed would considered as any hardship upon the sit- make them most scrupulous of being ting member. Another reason why this biassed, especially when they acted under alteration ought to be made was, that sup- oath. He regretted, however, to say that posing the contents of the petition to be this was not the case. He had consulted substantiated, the sitting member was several professional gentlemen who had completely out of court, and a person re- I been concerned on these occasions, and from them he had learned, that it was had often thought of the propriety of abothe practice, not only for the nominees lishing nominees; and what they had just to go up stairs and advise respecting heard with respect to Ireland confirmed striking out the names, but even to at- his notions on this subject. He was glad tend consultations; and that these judges, to find the conduct of this business in therefore, had actually made themselves such able hands. parties in the dispute. He did not mean Mr. Secretary Peel agreed, that the to cast any imputations on individuals, time was come when these laws ought to but he was sure there was no hon. gentle-be consolidated, and thought the House man who would not see how inconvenient was under great obligations to his right it was to persist in the present course. hon. friend. He was sure that great adIn his opinion, it would be better to do vantage would result from the measure.' away with nominees altogether. Gentle- The constitution of committees ought to men were now better informed on these be altered with respect to nominees; and subjects than they were sixty years ago, he thought eleven members quite enough and the different reports which had been for a committee. Besides, it might be ne presented to the House had turned men's cessary that many committees should be minds more seriously to the law on this appointed, and therefore the more the subject. The only course which could be number of persons in each committee was substituted for the present would be to reduced, the greater provision there would give the committee the power of electing be for committees. At the same time, the nominees. But even this course was the loss of the nominees ought to be com- ; subject to objection, and he thought the pensated for by some other means, in orbetter way would be to do away with them der that ability and experience might be altogether. These were the principal al- ensured to each committee. He thought terations which it was his wish to make. great inconvenience would result, if the His bill included all the acts upon the committee was allowed to select a chairsubjects, with the exception of that of man from the body of the House. He 1803, which regulated the examination of wished to suggest to his right hon. friend, witnesses. He thought that had better whether soine person might not be apremain as an object of separate attention. pointed by way of assessor.

All he was inconveniences in the pre- afraid of was, that if there were only to sent practice, but he confessed that he be thirty-three names, with the power of could suggest no remedy for them. He striking off twenty-two, committees would had, therefore, left that act to be altered be appointed which, from their inexas the House should think fit.

perience, would not obtain the confidence Mr. Croker agreed in all that had of the House. fallen from the right hon. gentleman. Sir J. Macintosh said, his suggestion He wished to say a word or two on the was, that it should be made imperative on question of nominees. When the Irish the committee to select a chairman from parliament adopted the acts of the Eng- the body of the House. This would do Iish parliament on this subject, they left away with the reflection which the right out the part respecting nominees, and hon. gentleman had alluded to. never found that the omission of it caused Sir G. Warrender thought there ought any difficulty, either from want of informa- to be an assessor appointed. A committee tion or want of justice.

of which he was a member had actually overSir J. Macintosh said, he never was turned a decision of the Court of Session; in a more unpleasant situation in his life, which decision was afterwards confirmed than when he had been appointed a nomi- by the House of Lords. nee, He would throw out, as a sugges

Mr. Calcraft agreed that nominees tion to the right hon. gentleman, whether ought to be abolished. He had often a convenient substitute for nominees might been a nominee, but he would not plead not be found by resolving, that the com- guilty to all that had been said against mittee should choose a chairman, not from them. He did not like the proposition of among themselves, but from the body of an assessor. He thought the suggestion the House.

of making it imperative on committees to Mr. Bankes entirely concurred in what select a chairman from the body of the had fallen from the right hon. mover. In House was a very proper one. The

ourse of his parliamentary life, he House and the country would, he was

He saw many