on the third reading to introduce a clause, by which no persons should be entitled to prosecute, who had not, by proper buoys, marked out the extent of their beds.

The gallery was then cleared, but we understand that the report was agreed to without a division.

The bill was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23.

By a message from the commons, the following bills were brought up: the Irish stamp duties bill, the six millions exchequer bills bill, the whale fishery bill, &c. which were read a first time.

The royal assent was declared by commission to thirtythree public and private bills. Among the public bills, were the Irish loan bill, the spirits duties bill, the West Indian auditors bill, &c.

The commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Spencer, and Lord Walsingham.

On the motion that the stamp duties bill be read a first time,

Lord Holland rose to observe upon the extreme import ance and complexity of the measure. It was one which, in his opinion, required and deserved a minute and mature consideration. It was therefore proper the house should have it before them in a legible and accessible form. His lordship then moved that the bill be printed.

Lord Hawkesbury observed, that it was not the practice to print bills of this sort; nor did he see of what utility it could prove to have the bill printed. He must therefore resist the motion of his noble friend.

Lord Lauderdale and the Duke of Norfolk insisted on the propriety of having the bill printed, as otherwise it would be impossible to come at a perfect knowledge of its provisions.

Lord Hawkesbury repeated his objections to the printing of the bill, upon which

Lord Holland said he felt it his duty to take the sense of their lordships upon the question.

The house then divided :

The prints of the curates' bill having been laid on the

table,

The Bishop of London rose to move, that the bill be read a second time to-morrow.

The motion brought on a short conversation between -Lord Lauderdale, Earl Moira, and the Lord Chancellor, during which objections were stated to the bill, and complaints made against so short a notice of the second reading, the bill not being properly before the house until this day. It was at length agreed, that the second reading of the bill should not take place until Monday next.

Lord Lauderdale rose pursuant to notice, to move that the opinion of the judges be taken upon certain clauses of this bill, which regulated the amount of the notes which the bank was empowered to issue, and the distribution of any surplus that might arise to the subscribers. According to the accounts on the table, it appeared that the bank had issued notes to a larger amount than that to which by the bill it was limited; and that the subscribers had subscribed only the same sums as before. He was at a

loss to see where was the necessity of providing for the distribution of the overplus. This latter clause surely contained as gross a bull as ever was imported from Ireland.

Lord Limerick rose to order. He could not sit silent *and hear reflections thrown out upon the country to which he belonged; nor would he tolerate them from any noble lord.

Lord Lauderdale meant no disrespect to Ireland; he had often been rallied himself on the accent he had brought from his country, without being hurt at it. The best authorities considered bulls as the offspring of a quick imagination. But surely an act of parliament was not the most suitable place for exhibiting fights of fancy.

The Lord Chancellor saw no necessity for consulting the judges on the clauses referred to by the noble baron. As a lawyer, he might take upon him to say that the judges would give no opinion as to the illegality or ob

scurity of the clauses; but he was not now delivering the opinion of a lawyer.

After a few words from Lord Lauderdale, the motion wes negatived without a division.

DISTILLERIES.

The order of the day being moved for the second reading of the bill, prohibiting for a time to be limited the, distillation from corn,"

Earl Bathurst rose and observed, that it was not në, cessary for him to detain their lordships by any minute explanation of the measure now proposed. It was one, which, when fairly considered, would be found highly expedient under all the circumstances of the present mo ment. The country was now completely excluded from ány supplies of corn from the continent of Europe, and from America. A scarcity of provisions had been felt in many parts of the United Kingdom; in Scotland, oats were scarce, and had risen in price; in Ireland the potatoe crop had in a great degree failed, which produced a greater consumption of corn, so that prudence dictated a -measure which, while it seasonably provided against a scarcity in one quarter, would afford relief in another, where distress had arisen from a superabundance of other articles. There was now a glut in the market of West India produce, which proved highly injurious to the interests of the West Indian proprietor. This glut would be relieved by encouraging distillation from sugar, with -out producing any detriment whatever to the interests and improvement of agriculture. He trusted therefore the measure would be cheerfully acquicsced in.

Lord Selkirk was decidedly against the measure, on the ground that it would counteract the operation of natural causes, which, if left to themselves, would supply all the wants of a country. The noble lord supported his opinion by a variety of high authorities, who deprecated all legislative interference in agricultural and commercial concerns, as ultimately mischievous, and always unwise.

Lord Holland did not think that the principles so much insisted upon by the noble lord who spoke last, were at all applicable to the present measure. It was only intended as a temporary measure to guard against a con tingent evil, and to ensure a positive good. Without in, juring in the least the landed interest, it would materially

benefit the West India proprietor, whose case loudly called for every possible alleviation.

Lord Sidmouth most willingly admit'ed that the West India planter should receive every possible relief, which could not injure any other description of the community; he wished, however, the measure had been built on a broader principle, and with a view to a more permanent object. There were resources within the country, which if properly improved would render it wholly independant of any other nation, He should, therefore, recommend the most serious attention to an enlarged improvement of our agricultural system.

Lord Albemarle was against the interference of parlia ment in agricultural and commercial affairs. It was a mistaken notion to imagine that the land under cultiva tion was not sufficient for the calls of the country. The fact was, that it was not sufficiently cultivated; nor were the farmers, under the pressure of the present burthens, able to bestow upon it that perfect degree of cultivation : but if half the sums that were sent abroad for the importation of corn, had been expended on the improvement of agriculture, there would be now no necessity for a measure like the present, nor any apprehensions of a scarcity. He should therefore recommend the adoption of some sure measure, which would secure the country against the dangers of scarcity, without tending to the injury of any particular class of the community. The present bill he must oppose as prejudicial to the landed interest.

"

The Duke of Montrose and Lord De Dunstanville, supported the bill, which was strongly argued against by

Lord Lauderdale, who reprobated its principle, and deprecated its evil co sequences on the same principle as that laid down by lord Selkirk.

Lord Hawkesbury replied to all the arguments that were advanced against it, and begged their lordships to recollect, that experience and a reference to the statute book would most satisfactorily shew, that it has been the uniform principle and practice of the legislature to encou rage and promote agriculture. That being the case, with what justice could the landed interest now complain, that a measure was adopted to relieve another great interest, which relief might be granted without the least prejudice to any other interest in the country? Besides, the present

measure had in view the general interests of the community at large; and that he conceived to be the ground upon which a wise and provident legislature would always proceed. After adverting to the general situation of the country, as affected from without and within, he considered the present bill as most forcibly pressed on the adoption of the house. Under these impressions it should have his most decided support. ·

The question that the bill be read a second time was then agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be committed to-morrow. Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, June 23.

A message from the lords, by the deputy usher of the black rod, required the attendance of the house at their lordships' bar, when the royal assent was given by commission to several public acts.

The private stealing bill was read a third time, and passed.

Mr. Barham deferred, till to-morrow, his intended mo tion for some further measures of relief to the West Indian planters, in pursuance of the reports of the West India committee.

A message from the lords, by the masters in chancery, declared their lordships' assent to the pilots bill, the Cape of Good Hope trade bill, the expiring laws bill, and the bill for obtaining an account of fines levied upon the general defence act.

Mr. Rose informed the house, that his majesty had been waited on with the address of the house respecting vaccine inoculation, and was graciously pleased to say he would give directions accordingly.

On the motion for going into a committee on the reprisal bill,

Sir C. Pole moved an instruction to the committee to receive a clause, to prevent prize agents from advancing money to superior officers on account of prizes, previous to their general distribution. He spoke in high terms of commendation of the late arrangement for the distribution of prize money, made public by his majesty's proclama tion. The clause he proposed, would give additional ef